As Pop-Ups Lay Dying, IAB Releases Pop-Up Guidelines

As the popularity of pop-up blockers accelerates and the number of pop-ups actually reaching consumers dives, the Interactive Advertising Bureau yesterday released guidelines for pop-up advertising. After the IAB processes feedback from a two-month comment period, the guidelines will become final.

Some highlights:

• Guidelines call for a mandatory close box
  
• Any audio or video must be user-initiated
  
• Pop-ups should be labeled so users know where they're originating from
  
• Frequency control - no more than one pop-up per site visit
  
• X-10 permanently banned from using the format. (Okay, that one was a joke.)
  

Sadly, the IAB guidelines are likely to be adopted only by member companies, which comprise the major consumer and B2B ad-supported websites. So they aren't likely to cut down on the many-headed hydra of pop-ups that assault your computer when you visit your favorite pr0n site. (That's another joke, folks...)

Posted by tomhespos, April 30, 2004 11:53 AM | | TrackBack