GUIDELINES& POLICIES
Publisher Content Policy
General
This policy governs the offering and usage of third-party content as part of the Community Toolbar platform. Additional policies are available here.
Content Offered via the Community Toolbar Platform
Using the Community Toolbar platform, online publishers and third parties may create custom apps, gadgets, features, links and/or buttons (the "Apps"). All such Apps must be clearly visible from the Community Toolbar, may only contain legal content, and must be developed according to our Advanced App Guidelines.
Publishers or third parties who use the Community Toolbar platform can offer their Apps directly to their community of users by promoting them on their Community Toolbars and websites. They can also share their Apps in the Conduit App Marketplace, where End Users and other publishers in the Conduit network can add the Apps.
Requirements
Conduit encourages Publishers and third parties (hereinafter, "Content Providers") to share their Apps and reap the benefits the Community Toolbar platform has to offer: distribution to new audiences, new revenue models, brand exposure and more. At the same time, Conduit requires all Content Providers using its platform to protect the rights of End Users and make sure that the content they offer is safe and beneficial.
In the event that an App requires access to, collection of or use of End Users' information, each Content Provider must:
- Present to End Users a clear notice prior to their use of the App and explain what information may be collected and why.
- Allow End Users, prior to using the App, to choose whether to share their information OR to disable the App.
- Present to End Users accurate Terms of Service and Privacy Policy that govern the use of the App.
- Protect End Users' information and avoid putting End Users' privacy or security at risk.
- Ensure that their policies and notices honestly reflect their activities and collection of End Users' information.
In the event that an App monitors End User activity, each Content Provider must:
- Present to the End Users, prior to their use of the App, a clear and honest notice explaining which activity may be monitored and why.
- Allow End Users, prior to using the App, to choose whether to allow monitoring of their activity OR to disable the App.
- Present to the End Users designated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy that govern the use of the App.
- Protect the End Users' information and avoid putting End Users' privacy or security at risk.
In addition, in the event that the App includes features that can enhance or modify web pages visited by End Users, the Content Provider must:
- Notify the End Users about such features prior to their using the App and allow the End Users to disable these features or remove the App, at any time.
- Additionally and if the Content Provider uses the Community Toolbar platform's advanced API capabilities to create an App, then the Content Provider must submit a request to use such capabilities as made available in the Conduit Platform, and such requests must be reviewed and approved by the Conduit compliance team prior to the App being made available to End Users.
Content Providers who do not follow these requirements will be in violation of Conduit's policies. As such, their Apps will be removed from the Community Toolbar platform and legal actions may be initiated against them.
Example of app that follows our Content Policy and Advanced App Guidelines:
Description: The "Shop Till You Drop" app provides End Users with discount coupons on top of the sites they visit.
The first time the End User sees the app, a notification must be shown with a description of the app that includes an explanation about the potential use of the End User's personal information. The End User is provided with access to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy governing the use of the app. If the End User agrees, then the app is activated. If the End User does not agree, then the app is disabled (without any personal information being sent).
If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us.
[Last updated: February 2012]