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ZiNgA BuRgA · 08/01/2012 05:11 AM

With all the hubhub about SOPA being passed in the US, I had a thought:

The big corps don't like you pirating their stuff because it means less potential revenue for them.  But what about the big corps who earn big from online advertising not liking people blocking ads, lowering their revenue stream?
There already exists some websites which seem to go to lengths to try to detect AdBlock and similar, whilst some others ask their users to disable ad-blocking when visiting their website.

The general consensus is that ad-removal is legal, but I wonder how far that actually extends.  Would, say, a hardware device which records and automatically strips out advertising from TV channels be considered legal?  Removal of branding?  What about adware applications (with payware versions with no ads) and blocking ads in those?

On the other hand, it's probably harder to see something offensive about ad-blocking vs the "stealing" image associated with piracy that large corps have tried to drill into us.  Also, Google is probably one of the largest online advertisers (online is somewhat the most important as that's where most ads are blocked) and they seem to have a decent interest in maintaining their PR, at least for now.

Do you think there will ever be laws to control ad-blocking?

Drako · 08/01/2012 06:46 AM

I can only see that happening in a more futuristic time.

Lets say there are ads in a mall in a holographic form and all of a sudden every ad goes off thanks to a random stranger carrying an ad blocking device. You never asked for the ad to be turned off but the stranger does not care. I think the internet is becoming more and more integrated with our reality if a problem like this ever came up maybe then a law will get passed.

Online if you wanted to sell a product and a browser came out and cut out ALL ads you would feel deprived of possible buyers. I think small business owners might try to get a law passed but not well known merchants.

Some might think ads will control us some day but ad blocking services can also control what ads wee do see once in a while.

ZiNgA BuRgA · 09/01/2012 07:05 PM

(08/01/2012 06:46 AM)Drako Wrote: Some might think ads will control us some day but ad blocking services can also control what ads wee do see once in a while.

Interesting point there.
Are you suggesting ad blocking services which selectively show ads? Methinks that only would work if it is commercialised (i.e. incentives to the ad blocker to allow some through), which would only work if the free ones don't.

ZiNgA BuRgA · 23/11/2012 05:13 PM

(08/01/2012 05:11 AM)ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote: Would, say, a hardware device which records and automatically strips out advertising from TV channels be considered legal? Removal of branding? What about adware applications (with payware versions with no ads) and blocking ads in those?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20251723
I suppose wee're safe for now.

Related article: http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/news...ttleground
Interestingly, MediaFire tried to block the ad skipping Firefox add-on, Skipscreen: http://godownloadsongs.com/blog/2009/10/...zilla-org/
It failed, but shows that people are taking this into consideration.

bsanehi · 23/11/2012 06:45 PM

I don't think many people know about the adblock plugin, And the less they know, and the less information and articles about it, the better it is for websites. So lots of websites don't acknowledge the plugin, like google.

ZiNgA BuRgA · 23/11/2012 06:49 PM

Relatively yes, although Adblock is probably one of the most popular Firefox addons.

FonFon · 23/11/2012 09:13 PM

~~The only add-on that I'm using~~ Adore

EDIT: Make that two

forgot about this one Hahaha

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