We love to see our Associates drive traffic to Amazon in innovative and creative ways, but would like to remind Associates that they still need to make sure that their linking methods are not violating the Associates Program Operating Agreement.
Recently a number of Associates have violated the Associates Program Operating Agreement by intercepting users’ visits to Amazon and automatically inserting their Associates ID to artificially increase advertising fees.
We work hard to keep our Associates Program as open as possible. An important part of maintaining this openness is the strict prohibition on artificially creating sessions on the Amazon Site (contained in the Associates Program Participation Requirements):
“You will not attempt to intercept or redirect (including via software installed on users’ computers) traffic from or on, or divert advertising fees from, any site that participates in the Program.”
“You will not artificially generate clicks or impressions on your site or create Sessions on the Amazon Site, whether by way of a robot or software program or otherwise.”
When Associates violate these requirements they are generating advertising fees they did not earn. For example, a toolbar that automatically inserts an Associates ID into links to Amazon from a third party website is not eligible for advertising fees and is violating the requirements above. Similarly, an Associate creating a false “click” by loading the Amazon Site in a hidden browser window (often without the knowledge of the user) is violating the requirements above.
We want to remind all Associates that any use of automated scripts or other technologies that attempt to take credit for Amazon shopping by artificially generating clicks or initiating sessions may result in immediate termination of an Associate’s account and withholding of outstanding advertising fees.
