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Gator-style Overlay Ads Are Legal, Says Court

Posted by michael on from the layer-upon-layer dept.

donutz writes "C|Net has the scoop: "A federal court has ruled that pop-up ads for rivals of U-Haul International, placed atop the moving company's own site by a third-party software application, are legal." In this case, it was ad serving company WhenU.com placing the ads, but this decision could have a big impact on the court cases that involve competitor Gator."

8 of 436 comments (clear)

  1. The real question the judge should answer... by Sir+Rhosys · · Score: 5, Funny

    Should people that install Gator (or Gator-clones) on their computer be allowed to drive moving trucks?

    --

    Use Python

  2. Taking matters into our own hands.... by jdhutchins · · Score: 5, Funny

    The court's ruling was correct, there isn't much legal backing for the case. It's more of a case that the adware programs are being general iddiots, and companies don't like it. We just need to start getting more people to download AdAware etc so that they can get a rid of these programs.
    Or, someone should hack the adware sites so they put an ad over Microsoft's web page. Then Microsoft will hear about it, get pissed, and start bundling some kind of program to get a rid of the AdWare (just hope that it's not DRM).

  3. Re:fr1st l3gal ps0t by thefinite · · Score: 5, Funny

    That's an interesting thought. An even more grave example would be going to a wesbite like Slashdot and seeing blatant ads for Microsoft. Oh wait....nevermind.

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    Boom Shanka
  4. Of course they're legal... by VirtuaKnight · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...because everyone knows that you don't actually own your computer; it belongs to marketers as soon as you plug it in the the 'Net.

  5. You can bet they will be infecting linux soon. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    With linux starting to get popular on the desktop you can bet they will start trying to sneak it in. Its not that hard, just include gator as a "dependancy" in some popular app. Or maybe they will make gatorlux their own ad infested distro.
    Welcome to gatorlux 1.0 sponsored by ford
    login : gator
    password :
    Advert : Get AOL 9 free, now with 1200 hours free for 90 days

    gator@gatorlux.ford : ls
    Your computer could be infected, download purple monkey for linux now:
    usr opt boot bin etc home tmp dev var ford

    kernel panic! Your computer's clock is inaccurate, download precision time (you could use ntpd, but then we couldn't force SUV adverts on you then)
    1. Re:You can bet they will be infecting linux soon. by ejaw5 · · Score: 4, Funny

      try getting some work done with their distro...

      gator@gatorlux.ford: vi main.java

      Emacs is the extensible, customizable, self-documenting real-time display editor. http://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/

      gator@gatorlux.ford: javac main.java

      Don't throw out your existing systems. Microsoft .NET-connected software makes it easier for you to share or integrate information using the technology you own now.
      http://www.microsoft.com/net/

      --

      $cat /dev/random > Sig
  6. Re:Gator's in an amazing position. by cpeterso · · Score: 4, Funny


    why don't site defacers hack the Gator ad database or create a worm that takes over the Gator client? Then their defacements could be much more interesting! :-)

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    cpeterso
  7. Huh? by Cinematique · · Score: 4, Funny

    So this means I'm allowed to cover a billboard five minutes from my house with a banner that says "www.goatse.cx" in 4500 point font?