Any initiatives that help to clean up the advertising industry will result in more long-term revenue for affiliate marketers. Restricting or eliminating Adware apps will result in fewer consumers purchasing Ad Blockers and Anti-Spyware software that blocks ads and deleted cookies.

In a commendable move toward that end the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has set up requirements that prohibit members use of software for advertising distribution. They speficially single out software that relays spam, serves “endless loop pop-up advertising,” or deceptively modifies security or browser settings. DMA Bans Members from Pushing Spyware.

“Beyond the narrow problems it causes in reductions of performance, hijacking and spreading of spam, [spyware] causes a much more pernicious problem in making consumers less confident in [doing business online],” said Louis Mastria, the DMA’s VP of interactive and emerging media. “That problem drove us to usher this new guideline.”

The DMA’s board approved the guidelines last week, and they henceforth become part of the group’s overarching ethical business practices document. Another trade group, The Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), is in the process of developing guidelines for adware applications.

Hats off to the DMA for making a move in the right direction!