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IGN Entertainment Policies

Unless expressly stated otherwise in the applicable IO, these Policies set forth the various criteria and specifications such as content limitations, technical specifications, privacy policies, user experience policies, community standards, editorial and content policies, and advertising creative due dates, that govern advertising on the US based websites owned or controlled by IGN Entertainment, Inc. (“IGN”), including any websites for which IGN is representing the advertising inventory in whole or part. These Policies may be applied based on the text or other creative elements in an ad, the content of the advertiser site and the nature of advertiser’s products and services, or the channel on which the advertising is to run. IGN reserves the sole right to interpret and implement the Policies, including to reject or approve any ad or campaign, and to condition, suspend or disable any ad or campaign, for violation of these Policies. IGN further reserves the right to remove any advertising that it deems intrusive or inappropriate. Refunds will not be issued for promotions where the related advertising is affected as a result of Policy violations.

Privacy and Data Collection

IGN prioritizes the privacy of its users and their ability to control information collected about their activities on IGN. Further, as a premium media site with a concentrated demographic, IGN places a high value on the proprietary nature of its users and their activities. As such, IGN wishes to emphasize the following policies with respect to privacy and data collection.

Any advertising that collects a user’s personal information must clearly be for the benefit of the party that will use the information (in other words, users must know that they are providing their information to a party other than IGN) and all collection points must be accompanied by a conspicuous link to such party’s privacy policy.
Any promotion entry form that allows a user to enter from IGN (as opposed to bringing the user to a third party site) must be accompanied by a conspicuous link to the applicable rules, which shall comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Any collection of personal or sensitive user information must be done via a secure server (such as https://).
Any advertising carrying the logo of or otherwise claiming to adhere to the practices of any consumer protection, security, privacy or best practices organization shall comply in all material respects with such organization’s requirements regarding such advertising. Examples are ESRB and eTrust.
Conversely, any advertiser with a responsibility for displaying any such logo due to its membership or affiliation with such organization shall ensure its advertising adheres to all applicable requirements.
Not Allowed: Placing cookies, web beacons or similar tracking means on the machine of any user, or otherwise collecting data related to any user without the express written consent of a representative of IGN’s Sales Operations or Legal departments.
Not Allowed: Associating any user with any segment or demographic, or otherwise compiling any profile information about such user, even if anonymously or in the aggregate, by virtue of that user’s presence or activities on IGN. Advertisers are forbidden from any form of Repurposing, as defined in the IAB/AAAA Standard Terms and Conditions for Internet Advertising for Media Buys One Year or Less, Version 3.0. Just one example of the foregoing prohibition is that an advertiser may not add “gamer” or “Xbox user” to an existing anonymous profile of a user compiled from such user’s activities across third party sites.

Advertising Standards

The following standards are meant to serve as a guideline as to the standards that IGN will impose when determining whether or not to accept certain advertising content, though the list is by no means comprehensive. Content subject to review will be reviewed in light of several factors, including the intended audience (for example, advertising featuring a model in a bathing suit may be appropriate for askmen.com but not for whattheyplay.com), nature of the product or service being advertised, and time restrictions (if any). Advertising run without review will remain subject to acceptance by IGN.

Adult and Sexual Content:

Bathing wear and undergarment advertising must be reviewed prior to acceptance.
Advertising featuring provocative content such as sexually suggestive poses or minimally covered breasts, buttocks or genitals must be reviewed prior to acceptance.
Not Allowed: Any advertisement that facilitates, promotes, or uses profanity.
Not Allowed: Nudity & sexually explicit images or content, whether or not it contains “lascivious exhibition” or is considered to be pornography or obscene.
Not Allowed: Nudity & sexually explicit images or content, whether or not it contains “lascivious exhibition” or is considered to be pornography or obscene.
Not Allowed: Sexual aids, adult toys, male enhancement products; however, condom advertising may be accepted on a case by case basis.
Not Allowed: Promotion of prostitution or for sites promoting escort or sex matching services or related content.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Weapons:

Alcohol advertising must be reviewed prior to acceptance. Certain restrictions apply to all alcohol advertising, including time and channel targeting such that the majority of the intended audience is 21 years of age or older, and whether the product is hard (liquor) or soft (beer, wine) alcohol. Also, alcohol advertising should not promote excessive drinking or the intoxicating effects of alcohol.
Not Allowed: Advertising is not permitted for the promotion of tobacco or tobacco-related products such as cigarettes, cigars, snuff, tobacco pipes, and rolling papers.
Not Allowed: Advertising for certain weapons, including firearms, firearm components, ammunition, switchblades, butterfly knives, and brass knuckles.

Competitive Products and Services:

Advertising may not feature, link to or otherwise promote any product or service that is competitive to the business of IGN or its divisions.
Not Allowed: Advertising for video game media (reviews, articles, news), digital game downloads, or men’s lifestyle information (reviews, articles, news).

Drugs and Paraphenalia:

Any prescription medication must be reviewed prior to acceptance.
Not Allowed: Promotion of products designed to help someone pass a drug test. This includes products such as drug cleansing shakes and urine test additives.
Not Allowed: Promotion of illegal drugs, herbal remedies or “miracle cure” products.
Not Allowed: Promotion of drug paraphernalia (such as water pipes or bongs).
Not Allowed: Anabolic steroids, muscle-enhancing stacks and cycles, bodybuilding steroid supplements irrespective of an advertiser's claims of legality.

Gambling:

Advertising for hotels/casinos that offer gambling must be reviewed prior to acceptance.
Advertising for play-for-prize tournaments and competition must be reviewed prior to acceptance, which may be conditioned on supplementary terms and conditions.
Not Allowed: Promotion of online gambling content, including online casinos, sports books, poker, and sites that provide tips, odds, and handicapping. However, certain exceptions may apply for non-US advertising.

Intellectual Property Rights, Trademarks, Etc.:

Advertising containing any IGN owned trademark, graphic or logo must be done under IGN’s express permission or license.
Advertiser’s use of third party intellectual property (i.e. logos, trademarks, audio, images, likeness, etc.) is at their own risk. It is assumed that inclusion of any intellectual property in any advertising is properly licensed for use by advertiser.
Not Allowed: Infringements, violations or misappropriations of IGN’s or third party rights, including any rights of personality or publicity or any end user agreement (such as a video game terms of use).

No Misleading Advertisements:

Users viewing an advertisement should be able to differentiate it from the editorial content on IGN.
Free offers must only be made if the marketed item is truly free and all information pertaining to the method and implications (such as recurring subscription or obligation to make further purchases) of qualifying for and receiving the free offer within the creative itself is clear and conspicuous.
All offers must comply with FTC guidelines and policies, and must not be deceptive, unfair, or containing deceptive pricing, implied affiliations or endorsements, unsubstantiated claims or undisclosed endorsements.
Users viewing an advertisement should be able to understand what kind of product, service, or other content they will find on the linked-to site. Products or services promoted in the advertisement must be reflected on the site’s landing page.
Advertising soliciting actions of users that could incur costs or fees, such as signing up for a service by transmitting a code by text message, should clearly display the price and billing interval and any other pertinent information related to actual or potential charges that could be incurred by the user.
Not Allowed: Destination URLs with different domains than those displayed in the advertising. Destination URLs may redirect the user, but the URL must not mislead the user about the content on the landing page or ultimate domain.
Not Allowed: Promotion of “phishing” sites (i.e. sites collecting sensitive personal information or money with fake forms, false claims, or unauthorized use of trademarks).

Political and Public Service Organization Advertisements:

Political content or advertising must be approved prior to acceptance.
Landing pages for advertisements soliciting donations must carry a prominent statement that donations are not tax deductible.
If we accept advertising from one candidate in a race or side in a cause-related campaign, we may accept advertising from all others in that race/campaign, which will be done on comparable terms and conditions.
The party paying for the advertising must be clearly identified in the advertisement.

Prohibited Products:

The below items are Not Allowed:

Academic Aids: Advertising for academic aids (i.e. “test taking” services in which someone takes an exam for someone else and academic paper-writing services providing custom/pre-written theses, dissertations, etc.).
Counterfeit Designer Goods: Advertising for products that are unauthorized or unlawful replicas or imitations of designer goods
E-Gold: E-gold (or in-game currency) and e-gold related content, including but not limited to e-gold exchange, e-gold investment, and e-gold accounts.
Endangered Species: Promotion of products obtained or derived from endangered or threatened species such as elephants, sharks, tigers, whales, rhinoceroses, or dolphins.
Fake Documents: Promotion of false documents such as fake IDs, passports, social security cards, immigration papers, diplomas, and noble titles.
Hacking Tools: Promotion of hacking, cracking, or tools aiding in copyright infringement (such as mod chips, emulators and products or services that circumvent or digital rights management technologies).
Surveillance Equipment: Promotion of webcams and surveillance equipment for non-legitimate use.
Traffic Devices: Advertising for radar jammers, license plate covers, traffic signal changers, and related products.

Software Downloads:

Users must be informed as to exactly what is being offered for download.
Not Allowed: Automatic downloads or download command boxes.
Not Allowed: Hidden or harmful functionality as bundled components of a user approved download, including any software that could be considered to be AdWare/Spyware.
Not Allowed: Ads that spawn Active X controls.

Sensitive Content:

Religious content or advertising must be approved prior to acceptance.
Personals/Dating content should be targeted to users 18 years or older and must have as its primary purpose the advertising of bona fide dating services and not sex matching, escort, or prostitution services.
Not Allowed: Advertising that promotes illegal activities or offers.
Not Allowed: Advertising directed to children 13 years of age or younger.
Not Allowed: Advertising that promotes discrimination, violence, or displays defamatory, profane, hateful, or libelous material.
Not Allowed: Advertising that misrepresents, ridicules, advocates against, harasses, or attacks an individual or group on the basis of age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
Not Allowed: Greencard applications.

User Experience / Ad Functionality:

Audio is allowed in Floating Ad or Streaming Ad only upon user initiation upon launch. User must be in full control of audio on/off toggle.
Audio in static or standard ad units only upon user initiation.
Animation with standard advertising placements is unlimited provided file size is within IGN’s Ad Specifications.
Not Allowed: Advertising creative that employs flashing, shaking, rolling, pulsing (etc.).
Not Allowed: Blocking or impeding browser functionality from working as intended. “Back” button must work.
Not Allowed: Advertising that features false system messaging, error messaging, dialog boxes, etc.
Not Allowed: False application, system update, or diagnostic messaging.
Not Allowed: False “Close”, “Minimize”, “Maximize”, or other window functionality.
Not Allowed: Advertising that mimics IGN’s website design, functionality, navigation, service, or messaging.
Not Allowed: Survey Pop-up unless approved by IGN.
Not Allowed: Any “Pop-up” or “Pop-under” ads, anywhere on the network or as part of the destination/landing pages of ads on the network.
Not Allowed: Auto-initiated Audio

Additional GameStop Restrictions:

The following is a list of specific areas that are monitored closely and are considered unacceptable without GameStop's prior written approval:

Not Allowed: Nude or sexually explicity clothing.
Not Allowed: Depicitions of sexual activity.
Not Allowed: Sexually-themed products or products to treat any sexual ailment or dysfunction.
Not Allowed: Strong language including offensive slang.
Not Allowed: Illegal drugs, drug use, drug paraphernalia, symbolic gestures that may refer to drug use or the symbols that represent them.
Not Allowed: Blasphemy or mockery towards religious institutions, ethnic groups, or sexual preferences or the icons or symbols that represent them.
Not Allowed: Symbols of the Occult: 666, Satan, pentagrams, etc.
Not Allowed: Tabacco and alcohol products.
Not Allowed: Commentary, subject matter, or other content that would expose GameStop to ridicule, or reasonably would be considered to cause notoriety or reputational damage to GameStop.
Not Allowed: Links to other websites.
Not Allowed: Ad capturing payment information or other P11
Not Allowed: Ads with unsubstantiated, misleading, or false claims regarding product availability, pricing, or benefits.
Not Allowed: Ads in violation of publisher restrictions on price display or discounting (MAP).
Not Allowed: Ads takaing a position for or against specific political parties, causes or candidates.

In all instances, game-related advertisements and content must conform to ESRB standards, includiong ESRB age-gating requirements and standards for treatment of games not yet rated by the ESRB.

General Guidelines

CPU usage: Ads must average 65% CPU usage with occasion spikes allowed. Ads with consistently high CPU create a bad user experience and cannot run on our network. We test on a variety of single and dual core machines in order to accurately reflect our users. Please test your ads on some lower end machines before submitting.
Audio No ad can auto-play sound or play sound on roll over, all sound must be user initiated by a click.
Expansion: If an ad expands on mouse over, it must close on mouse out and not require a click from the user. Any expansion must have a clear call to action and the hot spot must be limited to this call to action text. The ad can stay locked in the open position if it was clicked to initiate it. Expansion must have a prominent close box.
Expansion: Roadblocks may have multiple expanding units provided that the expansion is on-click only.
Rich Media: All Rich Media (expanding, pushdown, floating, etc) MUST be served by an approved 3rd Party Vendor. Please see list located within IGN Ad Specs.
Sub-load: Ads can sub-load additional files ONLY if they meet the following requirements:
1. They must have a 4 second delay between the first file and the sub-load OR wait until the page has finished loading to load the second file.
  AND
2. They must be served from a third party approved vendor. We cannot sub-load files from our server nor can w+e run ads that pull content from a non-approved vendor due to possible page load and security issues.
Streaming video ads:Play of video can be host-initiated (automatic load), but video must start only after full loading of the advertisement "shell" units. Video MUST have Play/Pause (or Stop), Rewind, and Mute/UnMute buttons.

General Flash Information

Advertisers should submit the original Flash file (*.fla), SWF, HTML, and supporting PC fonts, so IGN can insert the click tracking solution if it has not been done already. This will also allow IGN to troubleshoot if there are any issues with the SWF.

Advertisers should submit a backup image (*.gif or *.jpg) for each ad unit to display to users without the required flash player. Image files are subject to file size specifications.

The *.fla file must have the clickTag embedded in a button, independent of any movie clip within the *.fla itself (please see "Tracking Macromedia Flash" below).

The wording of "clickTag" as a variable is case sensitive, please make sure to implement as per the next section below ("Tracking Macromedia Flash") For AS3, please use:

var req:URLRequest = new URLRequest(root.loaderInfo.parameters.clickTag);

myButton.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_UP, tracker);

function tracker(event:MouseEvent):void {

navigateToURL(req, "_blank");

}

Flash advertising initial load is subject to file size specifications. Note that subsequent load allows for much greater file sizes than initial load. A subsequent load is defined as follows: an ad’s subsequent load (a) loads at least 4 seconds after its initial load or (b) loads after the rest of the page has loaded.

Advertisers using third party ad servers should publish all flash with the 'Window Mode: Opaque Windowless' in the HTML wrapper to ensure Flash will display properly on the page.

IGN accepts Macromedia Flash version 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

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