ValueClick Settles With FTC
ValueClick, Inc. settled with the Federal Trade Commission today. The online marketing company agreed to a settlement payment of $2.9 million in the probe of its lead generation practices but ValueClick did not concede that it violated any laws.
The FTC alleged that ValueClick used deceptive marketing practices in violation of the CAN-SPAM and FTC Act. As part of its settlement agreement, the company and the Commission have agreed on a new set of standards to govern its business going forward, the Centre Daily Times reported. Chief Administrative Office Sam Paisley resigned to pursue other opportunities, Barron’s reports.
“We ended 2007 on a strong note and we are pleased to announce a settlement with the FTC,” said Tom Vadnais, chief executive officer of ValueClick in a release. “While macroeconomic uncertainties are a current industry concern, we believe we are positioned to generate growth and healthy margins in 2008. Our diversified offerings and scale make us a preferred partner for major digital marketers in the U.S. and abroad.”
ValueClick posted fourth-quarter earnings of $18.1 million, compared with $21.6 million at the same time last year. Revenue rose 14%, to $183.1 million.
Reader Comments.
I guess we’ll never know why the FTC thought ValueClick violated any anti spam policies. Unless either party discloses information, we’ll never really know. Even though I am not an employee, I will side with ValueClick as I believe they adhere to CANN-SPAM policies, and would never risk violation of any kind being the industry leader they are. I also have my own beliefs why ValueClick settled. Settling is not an admission of guilt.
Of course settling is an admission of guilt! A company does not pay $2.9 milion dollars in settlement fees unless the FTC has got the goods on them! Brett is obviously an employee of ValueClick or someone paid by their legal counsel office or one of their partners doing a little “public relations damage control”. Even FreeCreditReport.com’s fines for wrong doing 2 years ago only added up to $1M, and no one is more slimey than those guys, so my god what must the ValueClick guys have been doing to have to pay $2.9M ? This is good for consumers, and I am proud of our government and the FTC because they finally did something to protect us from these predatory marketers.
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