IAB and AAAA Agree on Terms, Conditions
- by March 19, 2001
The voluntary "Terms and Conditions for Internet Advertising," posted on both organizations' websites, cover ads served by media companies. According to the announcement, the two associations will meet in the near future to address issues specific to ads served by third party ad servers.
"One of the key objectives for the IAB is to simplify and make easier the buying and selling of interactive advertising for both media companies and agencies, and our work with the AAAA is one of the first steps in that process," said IAB CEO Robin Webster.
Mike Donahue, AAAA executive VP, member services, added, "This initiative has been in the works for a long time. This document representing both agencies and Internet media companies is a great coup for all-the Terms and Conditions are a first step in simplifying an often disorganized space."
This document covers a range of issues including insertion orders, ad placement and positioning, payment liability, cancellation policies, make goods, indemnification, privacy, and more. Agencies and Internet media companies can accept the Terms and Conditions as written, modify them to suit a particular situation, or choose not to follow them at all, the release states.
Some of the key issues addressed are:
* Advertisers, agencies, and media companies shall post and comply with their company's privacy policies
* Ownership of personally identifiable information (PII) should be clearly spelled out
* An agency cannot cancel a campaign 30 days or less prior to the start date, and the first 30 days of a campaign are firm. Effective on the 16th day of the campaign, an agency may give 14 days written notice of cancellation.
One of the Terms and Conditions addressed is sequential liability, an issue that traditionally has sparked spirited debate between media companies and agencies. The AAAA has steadfastly argued in favor of sequential liability-in which agencies cannot be held liable for any media bills unless they have been compensated by their clients for the media buy-since the policy was officially recommended by the AAAA in 1991.
The AAAA and IAB are urging their members and media companies who agree to the terms and conditions to attach them to future insertion orders.
Here's the full text of the document:
STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR INTERNET ADVERTISING FOR MEDIA BUYS ONE YEAR OR LESS
These Standard Terms and Conditions for Internet Advertising for Media Buys One Year or Less are intended to offer Media Companies, Advertisers, and their Agencies a voluntary standard for conducting business in a manner acceptable to all parties. This document is to accompany Agency and Media Company insertion orders and re
