BIONEWS, INC. ADVERTISING POLICY

1.  Policy

All advertising policies are independent of editorial decisions. Advertisements may not be deceptive or misleading and must be verifiable. Advertisements should clearly identify the advertiser and product of the service being offered according to this policy.

2.  Scope

This policy covers all functions within BioNews, Inc., and any affiliates, that involve Advertising Operations.

3.  Responsibilities

  • It is the responsibility of the VP, Media Operations to ensure compliance with this policy.
  • It is the responsibility of the VP, Media Operations to oversee this policy.
  • It is the responsibility of management to ensure compliance with this policy.

4.  Procedures

BioNews, Inc. have the right to refuse any advertisement that, in its sole discretion, is incompatible with its mission or inconsistent with the values of BioNews, the publication/web site or the organization, and to stop accepting any advertisement previously accepted. Ads are subject to review by the editor and others at BioNews, Inc. BioNews has no conflict of interest in what, when, or how we publish content, regardless of sponsorship status. In no case shall separate agreements with BioNews, Inc. or its affiliates supersede this policy.

Across the sites under BioNews, the advertisements or sponsored content shall be clearly defined by:

  • All display ad placements are labeled with “Advertisement” above them.
  • All native/content advertisements/sponsorships are labeled with “Sponsored” text.
  • Advertisements new to BioNews, Inc. may require pre-approval before they can appear. Refer to the individual publication ad policies or call your advertising representative for more information.
  • Advertisers may be required to submit supporting documentation to substantiate claims. For products not regulated by the FDA or other government agency, technical and/or scientific documentation may be required.
  • Ads for products not approved by the FDA that make any kind of health claims must carry the following disclaimer: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
  • Advertisements, advertising icons and advertiser logos must be clearly distinguishable from editorial content and may require special labeling to distinguish them as such
  • The full rules for any market research or promotion associated with an advertisement must be displayed in the ad – Branded content must include an ISI approved by regulatory MLR/PRC from the client.

Landing Pages:

  • Ads that contain a URL or domain in the body must link to that same URL or domain.
  • Ads must send users to the same landing page when the ad is clicked.
  • Landing pages cannot use “fake” close behavior or any of the spam behavior which is recognized as a malware.

Creative

  • Ads must directly relate to the content on the landing page.
  • Ads must clearly represent the company, product, or brand that is being advertised.
  • Ads cannot contain audio that plays automatically, without a user’s interaction.

Placement

  • BioNews serves the right to display advertising of an advertiser or any ad creative on any placement across the contracted site as suitable.

Ad Platforms

  • BioNews uses the below ad platforms to control and manage the advertising across the below placements.
    • Email Newsletters: AdButler platform is used to manage and control the advertising in email newsletters.
    • Website Display Ads: All display ads on the site are managed and controlled using Google Ad Manager formerly known as DoubleClick for Publishers.

Targeting

  • BioNews will have the sole right on having the targeting parameters for the advertising basis on the below. Any further targeting parameters if anything specific as per the below will be taken care of based on the contractual requirements as well.
    • Ad Placement Targeting: Individual ad placements/sizes can be targeted on the site at the discretion of BioNews
    • Geographical Targeting: Country – Province – City
    • Device Targeting: Desktop, Tablet, Smartphone
    • Browser Targeting
    • Operating System
    • Browser Language: (e.g., English, etc.)
    • Device Manufacturer
    • Bandwidth
    • Mobile Carrier (Dial-up, Wi-Fi, etc.)

5.  Prohibited Actions

  • Using Flash cookies, or similar technology, for the purposes of online behavioral advertising, individual profiling, repopulation, or storage of any information previously contained in deleted traditional browser-based cookies, or for any other purpose that violates any individual’s privacy rights.
  • Advertising for the following categories is prohibited:
    • Ads must not be false, misleading, fraudulent, or deceptive.
    • Ads cannot insult, harass, or threaten a user.
    • Ads cannot contain, facilitate, promote, or reference the following:
  • Offensive, profane, vulgar, obscene or inappropriate language;
  • Defamatory, libelous, slanderous and/or unlawful content;
  • Tobacco products;
  • Ammunition, firearms, paintball guns, bb guns, or weapons of any kind, or the sale of firearms or ammunition by mail order or at gun shows;
  • Gambling, including without limitation, any online casino, sports books, bingo, or poker without authorization from BioNews;
  • Scams, illegal activity, pyramid schemes, or chain letters;
  • Contests and sweepstakes unless given permission by BioNews to do so;
  • Get rich quick and other money-making opportunities that offer compensation for little or no investment, including money making schemes positioned as alternatives to part-time or full-time employment;
  • Adult content, including adult toys, videos, or other adult products, nudity, promotion of nude beaches or naked cruises or resorts, sexual terms and/or images of people in positions or activities that are excessively suggestive or sexual, or provocative images in violation of community standards;
  • Products or sites depicting or providing how-to materials about pedophilia or other non-consensual contact;
  • Adult friend finders, dating sites with a sexual emphasis, escort services, “strip” clubs, or products or sites that suggest the availability of prostitution services;
  • Products or sites that advocate, glorify or promote rape, torture, cannibalism, suffering or death;
  • Individuals seeking to adopt children or who offer children for adoption;
  • Products that descramble cable or satellite signals in order to get free services;
  • Products that promote software or techniques that bypass copyright protections;
  • Counterfeit, fake or bootleg products or replicas or imitations of designer products;
  • Products or sites that appear to facilitate or promote the evasion of laws (e.g., radar detectors, etc.);
  • Products made from endangered species;
  • Products or sites that offer fake identification or falsified documentation;
  • Services, contests or games that predict winners of races or sporting events;
  • Trivializes historic events such as the Holocaust, the Irish Famine or September 11th;
  • Hunting trips that guarantee animals will be available for kill;
  • Organ transplant services;
  • Products or sites that guarantee credit repair or credit cards;
  • Products or sites of questionable legality (e.g., miracle cures, etc.);
  • Excessive violence;
  • Uncertified pharmaceutical products;
  • Spy cams or illegal surveillance equipment;
  • Web-based non-accredited colleges that offer degrees;
  • Inflammatory religious content;
  • Politically religious agendas and/or any known associations with hate, criminal and/or terrorist activities;
  • Content that exploits political agendas or uses “hot button” issues for commercial use regardless of whether the Advertiser has a political agenda;
  • Hate speech, whether directed at an individual or a group, and whether based upon the race, sex, creed, national origin, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or language of such individual or group;
  • Content that advocates against any organization, person, or group of people, for public office;
  • Content that depicts a health condition in a derogatory or inflammatory way or misrepresents a health condition in any way.
  • Any attempt to track user’s data, to retarget any individual on any third-party site, to sell any data to a third party, to collect individualized data anonymously or otherwise for the purpose of retargeting on any third-party site is strictly prohibited.

6.  Violations

  • Violations of this policy may lead to consequences, up to and including, removal of Ad being served on BioNews, Inc. sites.

7.  Reservation of Rights

The Company reserves the right to modify or terminate this Policy with or without notice.