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Class Action Filed Against Bonzi Software
An anonymous reader writes: "A nationwide class action lawsuit was filed on November 25, 2002, in the Superior Court of Spokane County against Bonzi Software, Inc. Bonzi is among the world's most prolific issuers of internet advertising banners. Bonzi's website has been ranked as one of the most frequently visited websites in the world. In case you are wondering Bonzi is the company responsible for those irritating popup ads which say things like 'Your computer is broadcasting an internet IP Address...' and 'Your internet connection is not optimized ...'" The attacking lawyers provide some samples of the ads they say are misleading.
Sex - Find It
The pornindustry shys away from it because it is proven ineffective! It makes people annoyed, remember their name and associate it with false advertising, and they will never sign up! The same thing with (mail/usenet) spam. Instead the pornindustry has started to spam the searchengines.. They register 200 domainnames and have 200 different frontpages to the same site..
And they have also found that the very most effective way to get people to sign up is to post high quality free pictures without fake links and popups on all of the 1000s "thumbnail gallery post"s, together with a link to their signup-page.
That is why you don't see as much porn-banners/popups/spam as there used to be a few years ago...
My other account has a 3-digit UID.
I'd like to see how many Linux users accidentally clicked on these. Is the number less than or equal to zero?
I hate annoying ads as much as the next person but I don't think that makes it illegal. Let's take a look at the ads they have listed.
'Your computer is currently broadcasting an internet IP address. With this address, someone can immediately begin attacking your computer.'
'Your current connection may be capable of faster speeds. Download InternetBoost now.'
'Your Internet Connection is not optimized. Download InternetBoost 2001 now.'
I don't see how those are all that deceptive except for maybe the last one since I seriously doubt they check to make sure your 'Internet Connection is not optimized'.
Oh but it looks like a Windows message. I guess by that logic we should file a class action suit against Walmart for all their generic brands products that look like the non-generic version. Or maybe we should sue McDonalds because their Big n Tasty looks bigger and tastier in the commercials. We all know Hamburglar is a thief, why wouldn't he try to rip us off?
Seems kind of hypocritical to me that most people here are pro-lawsuit on this issue but then on most other issues are all worried about government control and frivalous lawsuits.
morally bankerupt (wow thats the second time I've used that phrase today!)
If you're such a fan, how about learning how to spell it, eh?
aren't you worried that people might be annoyed, remember your name, and associate it with false advertising?
;-)))
No, that would just make me proud!
My other account has a 3-digit UID.
I HATE these guys.
Our former comptroller tried to get me fired for incompetence over one of these messages. She refused to believe that it was a banner ad, and insisted I was ignoring major security issues.
In the end she bought the software and installed it on her machine, and kept getting the error message.
She was an idiot.
"Live Free or Die." Don't like it? Then keep out of the USA