CNET's monetizing turned opt-in

Unread post by **Moonchild** » 2012-04-27, 08:10

Today, I received an e-mail from CNET, even though my account SHOULD have been removed completely already (-> classifies as SPAM)

Aside from that, though, it seems they are now making the "download wrapper" and "opt-in revenue sharing" kind of deal, probably after the flak they received about bundling things with every piece of software by default. It doesn't make the bundling, or "offers" as they call it, any better, of course, but at least they are being a bit more upfront about it, and actually willing to share some (probably a very small percentage) of what they are paid by piggybacking software vendors.

FYI: the letter I received (with grammatical errors as included

and yes, not even personally addressed so a mass mailing to a harvested list instead of using proper mail merge):

The link (removed) takes you to a simple sign-up form with terms and conditions that bind you to a full NDA for 3 years related to any and all information associated with the program. The "stub installer" they rolled out in July last year, according to the documentation up now, was a "test" (right...) on a "limited number of windows applications". Excuse me for being very skeptic here

Basically, they are trying to cover their asses now by offering it as an opt-in, with no details before you sign up and agree to the NDA about exactly how much revenue you're talking about. Considering their payment threshold is low ($10) for this stub installer agreement, it's probably peanuts.

lyceus · Unread post by **lyceus** » 2012-04-28, 01:57

Actually for that manners with the CNET people, I did choose for move to other websites like filehippo and never come back. Sometime in the past CNET was the place to go for get software but now is just another ho-hum corporate website with too much ads and sniffers.

Pale Moon forum

CNET's monetizing turned opt-in

CNET's monetizing turned opt-in

Re: CNET's monetizing turned opt-in