-Caveat Lector- A Search for the Highest Bidder by Polly Sprenger 5:15 p.m. 13.Apr.99.PDT AltaVista, the popular search engine, is preparing to auction the results for the most-requested search terms to the highest bidder. Words like "football," "sex," and "cars" that return more than 100,000 hits are being sold by auction through Doubleclick, an Internet advertising company. The first auction, which began 7 April, ends Wednesday. The minimum bid is 25 cents per keyword search. AltaVista is only selling the first search result on the site, but more could be added later. These are not banner ads, however. "Purchase the first or second listing and the user will see your text link at the top of the result page," the Doubleclick memo reads. But Doubleclick CEO Kevin O'Connor said Wednesday that the auctioned search positions will appear in a distinct and separate area of the AltaVista results page, and will be clearly labeled as sold positions. Other search engines are less than impressed with AltaVista's move, and say they don't intend to follow suit. "We don't want to speculate on what AltaVista is or is not doing," said Melissa Walia, a spokeswoman for Excite. "But we don't sell placements and results and have no intention to. We think it's important to be clear with the consumer about what is a search result and have that be objective." Doubleclick and AltaVista declined to comment, saying that final terms for the program aren't established. However, Doubleclick's West Coast marketing manager confirmed that all terms included in a letter sent to customers were accurate. Editor's note: This story has been corrected. Comments attributed to Doubleclick suggesting that AltaVista wished to downplay its strategy could not be independently confirmed and have been removed. Further, comments that the sold search positions were identical to regular search results were incorrect. Wired News regrets the error. http://www.wired.com/news/news/technology/story/19110.html DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
