Ezula

Ethics in Advertising - Editorial asking "How far should advertising go?" Examines eZula's browser plug in as a specific example of unethical advertising.

eZula and Surf+ Script Killer - Provides a script killer for the eZula software. Also works on Surf+.

Foistware - Information to help users and webmasters identify when Top Text is installed.

geek/talk Forums at GeekVillage - Discussion about the eZula TopText defacement in the context of copyright violation.

PetitionOnline: eZula - Petition protesting insertion of advertising links on web pages.

Protect Your Web Site from Unwanted Linking - Explains how the eZula system works and provides resources that allow users to remove it and to help web site owners protect their sites from unwanted advertising insertion.

StopScum - Resources, news and forums for the fight against contextual advertising.

ThiefWare.com - Information and resources primarily for webmasters who wish to fight unethical contextual advertising.

TrafficG Yellow and Green Link Killer - Provides script to disable Top Text and Surf+. Documents source code alterations made by these programs.

WebHostingTalk Forums: KaZaa is Hijacking Traffic! - Webmasters and surfers, mostly disapproving of the embedded advertising links.

Whirly Wiry Web: Fighting Ezula - Discussion of web design to detect and defeat contextual advertising, including recognizing the HotText and TopText plugins.

You got the yellow linking Virus? - Gives information on how to remove/unistall TopText, and links to other more detailed resources.

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. (August 27, 2001)

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). (August 27, 2001)

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. (August 23, 2001)

Search Engine Watch: Forget Smart Tags; TopText Is Doing What You Feared - Editorial decrying stealth download tactics, copyright and other legal violations. (August 22, 2001)

Applelinks: Another New Technology to Deep-Six - Editorial suggesting "loud, pointed, organized protests" against this attempt to "take over your web pages." (August 3, 2001)

PCWorld: Latest Online Ad Gimmick: Hyperlinks - "Advertisers try aggressive (and annoying) hyperlink technology to make the Web pay." (August 3, 2001)

c|net Tech News: Peer-to-peer exchanges court advertisers - Article describing the financial arrangements, briefly mentioning the controversy. (August 2, 2001)

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. (August 2, 2001)

Salon.com: The parasite economy - Examines the spread of both "spyware" and programs that add commercial links to websites. KaZaa's distribution of eZula is heavily featured. (August 2, 2001)

Slashdot: Don't Eat the Yellow Links - Web owners upset by changed content; describes an "opt-out" procedure. (July 31, 2001)

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. (July 30, 2001)