Anyone able to translate this Amazon Associates rule?

by Mrs S
4 replies
Originally Posted by amazon

Associates Program Participation Requirements - Participation Requirement #7


April 1, 2013 version
"7. You will not, without our express prior written approval, use any Content or Special Link, or otherwise link to the Amazon Site, on or in connection with any site or application designed or intended for use with a mobile phone or other handheld device (which prohibition does not apply to any site that is not designed or intended for use with such devices but that may be accessible by such devices (e.g., on a non-mobile-optimized site via an internet browser on a tablet device)), or any television set-top box (e.g., digital video recorders, cable or satellite boxes, streaming video players, blu-ray players, or dvd players) or Internet-enabled television (e.g., GoogleTV, Sony Bravia, Panasonic Viera Cast, or Vizio Internet Apps)."

July 1, 2013 version
"7. Except as agreed between you and us in a separate written agreement referencing this Participation Requirement, you will not use any Content or Special Link, or otherwise link to the Amazon Site, on or in connection with:

a. any client-side software application (e.g., a browser plug-in, helper object, toolbar, extension, or component or any other application executable or installable by an end user) on any device, including computers, mobile phones, tablets, or other handheld devices;

b. any site intended for use with a mobile phone, tablet, or other handheld device, which prohibition does not apply to any site that is not designed or intended for use with such devices but that may be accessible by such devices (e.g., on a non-mobile-optimized site via an internet browser on a tablet device); or

c. any television set-top box (e.g., digital video recorders, cable or satellite boxes, streaming video players, blu-ray players, or dvd players) or Internet-enabled television (e.g., GoogleTV, Sony Bravia, Panasonic Viera Cast, or Vizio Internet Apps)."
It confused me before and now I don't think the bullets make it any clearer. Is this saying that we can't make any mobile optimised sites that include affiliate links without prior written agreement? I think all websites should be mobile optimised given the number of people browsing via phones and tablets so this seems a bit at odds.
#amazon #associates #rule #translate
  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    Yes, it is written is a somewhat confusing way.

    I also read that it say you may not use any mobile optimized pages without prior written agreement.

    This is most likely not targeting regular web sites but mobile apps that simply overload the site with worthless traffic.

    So, I would build a mobile optimized page and then submit it to Amazon and ask for approval. Most likely they will OK it.
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      What I got out of that was two things:

      > No apps designed to funnel traffic to Amazon. They want people coming to them via a web browser, mobile-optimized or not.

      > No desktop apps, similar to the above. For example, no widget to show the 'deal of the day' on the desktop.

      As I read it, a regular website, optimized for mobile display, where the mobile owner must actively navigate to the site, should be fine.

      In my opinion, this restriction parallels the 'no links in emails' policy to limit or avoid spam.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucian Lada
    It would be a really good thing if they had a "for dummies" interpretation of their TOS, especially since they have international affiliates whose native language isn't English. There is at least one person in that position.
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  • Profile picture of the author briantalk
    They 'encrypt' it in legal language so the lawyer always gets paid as an 'interpreter'.
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