Ezula.com makes a plugin for Microsoft Internet Explorer that replaces text within web pages with links to advertisers' sites. Many webmasters have objected to links specifically featuring their competitors; others have more general objections based on the perceived integrity of their work after it has been infiltrated by links which they have not reviewed, or have reviewed and disapproved.
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- ThiefWare.com Information and resources primarily for webmasters who wish to fight unethical contextual advertising.
- Mystery links: New Web advertising tool gets results, draws criticism San Francisco Chronicle: mentions concerns about the ethics of covert advertising, and commercial firms outraged by links to competitors' sites.
- Slashdot: Don't Eat the Yellow Links Web owners upset by changed content; describes an "opt-out" procedure.
- You got the yellow linking Virus? Gives information on how to remove/unistall TopText, and links to other more detailed resources.
- Foistware Information to help users and webmasters identify when Top Text is installed.
- TrafficG Yellow and Green Link Killer Provides script to disable Top Text and Surf+. Documents source code alterations made by these programs.
- COTSE: You may have heard of Microsoft Smart Tags, but have you seen Ezula and Surf+? A webmaster's editorial accusing TopText and Intelsoft International's Surf+ of theft, false advertising, and deceptive self-promotion.
- Associate Programs Newsletter: How to stop Scumware from defacing your website Explains how Top Text and similar programs can negatively affect income streams, particularly for sites that use affiliate programs.
- geek/talk Forums at GeekVillage Discussion about the eZula TopText defacement in the context of copyright violation.
- San Diego Daily Transcript: 'Poachware' Routes Computer Users To Alternate Web Sites Article about anti-competitive involuntary hyperlinks being placed by Top Text (aka ContextPro).
- c|net Tech News: Peer-to-peer exchanges court advertisers Article describing the financial arrangements, briefly mentioning the controversy.
- c|net Tech News: Chorus of Gator critics grows Article on Interactive Advertising Bureau's possible regulatory complaint over Gator's ad insertion. Also discusses Top Text and the effort against it.