This Publisher Policy (“Policy”) governs the relationship between Appnerve LLP and any individual or entity (“Publisher” or “Supply Partner”) that engages with Appnerve or its affiliated companies (collectively, “Appnerve”) for the provision of digital advertising services (the “Services” or “Platform”).

This Policy applies to all forms of advertising inventory (“Publisher Inventory”) made available for monetization through Appnerve, which may include, but is not limited to, websites, mobile applications, connected television (CTV), or any other media through which Publisher’s content is accessible via Appnerve’s Services (collectively, the “Publisher Properties”).

  1. Scope and Acceptance

By participating in Appnerve’s Services, the Publisher acknowledges and agrees to comply with the terms of this Policy. This Policy forms an integral part of any agreement or engagement between the Publisher and Appnerve and is binding upon the Publisher from the time they begin utilizing the Services.

  1. Amendments and Updates

Appnerve may revise or update this Publisher Policy at any time to reflect operational, legal, or regulatory changes, or enhancements to our Services. Any such changes will be posted on this page, and the updated version will take effect immediately upon posting, unless stated otherwise.

Publishers are responsible for reviewing this Policy regularly and ensuring compliance with the most current version. Continued use of the Services after any such update constitutes the Publisher’s acceptance of the modified Policy.

  1. Publisher Responsibility

Publishers are expected to:

  • Maintain transparency and accuracy in the representation of their inventory and traffic.
  • Ensure all Publisher Properties and inventory comply with applicable laws, industry best practices, and Appnerve’s quality and content standards.
  • Cooperate with Appnerve to verify compliance, including providing access to relevant information, upon request.
  1. Communication

Appnerve may communicate important policy updates or compliance issues to the Publisher via email or through the Appnerve platform. It is the Publisher’s responsibility to maintain accurate contact details and monitor such communications.

Media Placement Policy

Appnerve offers a variety of media formats to assist Publishers in monetizing their digital properties effectively. While Publishers are encouraged to explore diverse placement strategies, all media placements must comply with the following requirements.

1.1 Publisher Responsibility

Publishers are solely responsible for the setup, operation, and content of their properties where Appnerve media is served. This includes ensuring compliance with Appnerve’s technical specifications and policies, as well as maintaining full control over the environments in which the media appears. Any misuse or deviation from the guidelines may result in enforcement actions, including suspension of service.

1.2 Placement Limitations

Each page may include a maximum of three media units unless otherwise approved by Appnerve in writing. Under no circumstances should media placements appear in pop-up or pop-under windows, within email communications, or on non-content-based pages. Furthermore, placements must not be served on domains or URLs that have not been explicitly reviewed and approved by Appnerve, nor on any site or page that has previously been disapproved. Any media displayed in such environments is considered a breach of policy.

1.3 Page Behavior and User Experience

Media placements must not be obscured, overlaid, or disrupted by any page elements. Publishers are prohibited from employing techniques that interfere with standard user navigation, such as automatic redirects to unrelated websites, browser hijacking, or altering browser settings without explicit user consent. The user experience should remain transparent, respectful, and free from deceptive behavior.

1.4 Prohibited Software Integrations

Publishers must not deliver or integrate Appnerve media units through adware, toolbars, browser plug-ins, add-ons, or any similar forms of software that may compromise the user’s control or consent. Media must only be served through direct integrations on approved web or app environments.

1.5 Media Code Integrity

All Appnerve-supplied code, including the Appnerve Media Player and video content, must remain unaltered. Publishers are required to embed the provided code exactly as issued, without modification. Any changes that affect the behavior, targeting, or delivery of media placements are strictly forbidden. Unauthorized tampering may compromise performance and result in the disabling of service.

1.6 Technical Compatibility

It is the Publisher’s responsibility to ensure that their digital properties are technically compatible with the Appnerve Media Player. This includes proper playback and visual rendering of Appnerve-provided video content. Appnerve assumes no obligation to notify Publishers if issues arise in content delivery or playback; resolution of such technical matters is the sole responsibility of the Publisher.

1.7 Content Quality Requirements

Publisher Properties must meet a baseline of originality and content quality. Pages should not be primarily designed for ad display with minimal substantive content. Content that is scraped or copied from other sources without clear attribution, or that violates copyright laws or third-party intellectual property rights, is strictly prohibited. Pages offering low-quality or misleading material, or content created primarily for monetization with little user value, do not qualify under Appnerve’s content standards.

Prohibited Categories

Appnerve maintains a zero-tolerance policy for prohibited content. Any Publisher found in violation of these guidelines risks immediate suspension or termination from the Platform without prior notice. It is the Publisher’s responsibility to ensure that all content remains compliant at all times.

Publisher Properties must not display, promote, or be associated with content that includes or relates to any of the following:

  • Fireworks: Promotion or sale of consumer or commercial fireworks.
  • Adult Content: Pornography, nudity, sexually explicit or suggestive content, including adult or mature themes.
  • Anime/Manga: Adult-themed or inappropriate anime or manga content.
  • Violence & Hate: Content that promotes violence, racial intolerance, hate speech, criminal or terrorist activities, or attacks against individuals, groups, or organizations.
  • Illegal Gambling: Promotion of unauthorized online gambling, including daily fantasy sports where prohibited by law.
  • Illegal Drugs: Content promoting the use, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs.
  • Adult Services: Promotion of escort services, adult dating platforms, “mail-order bride” services, or similar.
  • Malware: Any content that installs spyware, viruses, trojans, or malicious software.
  • Hate Speech: Incitement to hatred based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or similar grounds.
  • Graphic Content: Depictions or glorification of pain, suffering, torture, or death of humans or animals.
  • Weapons: Promotion or sale of firearms, ammunition, explosives, stun guns, BB guns, or related paraphernalia.
  • Drug Paraphernalia: Sale or promotion of items related to drug use, or methods for passing drug tests.
  • Piracy & Copyright Infringement: Content supporting illegal downloads, torrents, file sharing, or counterfeit products.
  • Intellectual Property Violations: Sale or promotion of replica goods or unlicensed branded content.
  • Academic Dishonesty: Sale of student essays, term papers, or academic fraud services.
  • Occult & Cults: Promotion of cult-related or occult content.
  • Libel & Fraud: Content that includes false claims, defamation, or fraudulent practices.
  • Legal Violations: Any content that breaches laws, court orders, or regulatory rules.
  • Profanity: Use of explicit language or offensive terms.
  • Unauthorized Charges: Ads that trigger SMS or phone charges without clear user consent or misleading prompts (e.g., hidden call/SMS triggers).
  • Deceptive Downloads: Claims that plugins (e.g., Flash/Java) are outdated to mislead users into downloading software.
  • Hacking & Cracking: Content that promotes or instructs on illegal hacking or cracking.
  • Illegal or Harmful Content: Any material that encourages harmful, illegal, or rights-infringing activity (e.g., bomb-making guides).
  • Tobacco Products: Promotion or sale of tobacco, cigars, blunt wraps, or related items.
  • Misleading Ads: Ads that misrepresent the landing page or deceive users about content or services.
  • Phishing: Attempts to trick users into giving up sensitive information via impersonation or misrepresentation.
  • Fake Interactions: Any method used to simulate user engagement, such as false clicks or auto-redirects.
  • System Mimicry: Ads that imitate system warnings or error messages to manipulate user behavior.
  • Unmoderated UGC: Platforms with large volumes of unmoderated user-generated content.
  • Other Illegal Content: Any content that is illegal, harmful, or infringes upon legal or ethical rights of others.

Restricted Ad Categories

The following categories of advertisements are considered restricted and may be permitted to run on the Appnerve Platform only under specific conditions. All ads in these categories must comply with applicable laws, regulations, and this Policy. Each ad is subject to Appnerve’s review and approval, and Appnerve reserves the sole discretion to determine whether an ad may be served on a case-by-case basis.

Categories Requiring Prior Approval:
  • Gambling: Includes online betting, sports betting, casino games, and related services.
  • Alcohol: Promotion or sale of alcoholic beverages or related content.
  • Tobacco: Advertising of tobacco products, alternatives such as vapes or e-cigarettes, and related paraphernalia.
  • Politics: Campaigns, political issues, advocacy messages, or election-related content.
  • Online Pharmacies: Ads involving the sale or promotion of prescription medications or online pharmaceutical services.
Cannabis, THC, and CBD Advertising:

Advertising of cannabis, THC, and CBD products is permitted only in jurisdictions where recreational use is legal, and only under the following strict conditions:

  • Ads must be geo-targeted to regions where such advertising is legally allowed (note: CBD-only products may be exempt from geo-targeting requirements).
  • Ads must run only on approved publisher lists that accept this category of advertising.
  • Creative assets must receive pre-approval from Appnerve.
  • Ads must include age restrictions or clearly labeled disclaimers such as “21+ only” or “Adult Use Only.”
  • Ads must not make health or medical benefit claims.
  • Ads must not include doctors, medical professionals, or suggest medical endorsement.
  • Ads must not depict or glamorize usage or promote initiation of use.
  • Ads must avoid styles that appeal to minors, such as candy imagery, cartoons, or animations.
Additional Restricted Categories:
  • Crypto currency Products & Services: Including exchanges, wallets, or crypto investments.
  • Financial Products & Services: Includes mortgage offerings, credit cards, personal loans, or other financial services; these are subject to strict targeting criteria provided by the advertiser.
  • Adult-Oriented Products & Services: May be permitted with targeting restrictions, creative limitations, and explicit content controls.

For further guidance or to submit creative assets for approval under these restricted categories, Publishers and advertisers must consult their assigned Appnerve account representative.

Invalid and Fraudulent Traffic

Appnerve strictly prohibits any method or technique designed to artificially generate views, engagements, or any other measure of Internet traffic, whether directly or indirectly. Publisher shall not engage in or permit any fraudulent, deceptive, mechanical, computerized, or artificial means of increasing viewership, impressions, or other forms of user interaction at any of the Publisher Properties, collectively referred to as “User Engagements.”

The following methods, among others, are explicitly prohibited:

  • Bots, Automated Tools, and Malware: Use of automated tools, robots, bots, or malware to generate views or engagement is prohibited.
  • Paid-to-View or Paid-to-Surf Services: Any third-party service that artificially increases traffic or user engagement through manual clicks or automated means is not allowed.
  • Placeholders or Transparent Placements: Use of transparent or placeholder placements that cannot naturally attract organic user interactions is prohibited.
  • URL Masking or Cloaking: Concealing the true source of traffic, including the use of URL masking or similar deceptive techniques, is forbidden.
  • Improper Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Traffic Generation: Using automated search tools, generating search requests, or engaging in unethical link baiting or buzz baiting practices to increase traffic is not allowed.
  • Forced Clicks and Misleading Links: Manipulating users into clicking on links through forced clicks, hijacked browsers, or altering placements so users cannot exit without clicking is prohibited.
  • Toolbars and Adware: Utilizing toolbars, adware, or similar applications that generate traffic by triggering pop-ups, redirecting users to unwanted sites, or modifying browser settings is strictly prohibited.
  • Spam and Unsolicited Communications: Sending spam, unsolicited emails, or any other form of unauthorized communication to generate traffic is not allowed.
  • Inappropriate Postings and Comments: Posting misleading or fraudulent content in newsgroups, comments, or microblogs to generate traffic or engagement is prohibited.
  • Trademark Infringement through Keywords: Purchasing keywords that infringe on trademarks to generate traffic is forbidden.
  • Spyware, Key loggers, and Monitoring Software: The use of spyware, key loggers, and similar technologies to track or monitor user activity for engagement purposes is prohibited.
  • Proxy Avoidance and Anonymizers: The use of proxies or anonymizers to mask traffic sources or generate invalid engagements is not allowed.

Appnerve reserves the sole discretion to determine whether any method or device used to generate traffic or user engagement complies with these guidelines. If Appnerve identifies that valid user engagements are co-mingled with fraudulent or prohibited traffic, Appnerve may disqualify all such engagements, regardless of their origin.

Additional Restrictions of Advertising Clients

Publishers must comply with additional restrictions or rules set by specific advertising clients, particularly when promoting certain products or services. For advertisers related to alcoholic beverages or their branded producers, Publishers must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Targeting and Audience Restrictions:

    Publisher’s Sites must not target or attract an audience in which more than 25% of the viewers are under the legal drinking age of the applicable region. For example, this would include individuals under 18 years of age in the United Kingdom and other European countries, or under 21 years of age in the United States, unless the campaign is explicitly age-gated or age-targeted to ensure compliance.

  • Promotion of Responsible Consumption:

    Publisher’s Sites must not encourage excessive alcohol consumption or advocate behaviors such as driving or operating potentially dangerous machinery while under the influence of alcohol. Such practices must be strictly avoided to ensure that alcohol-related advertising promotes responsible consumption.

These additional restrictions are intended to comply with industry standards and legal requirements while ensuring a responsible advertising environment. Failure to adhere to these restrictions could result in disqualification or other actions at the discretion of Appnerve.

Auto Refresh

Publishers are permitted to load new ads under specific conditions to ensure a user-friendly experience and prevent excessive or intrusive ad refreshes. Ads may only be refreshed when one of the following criteria is met:

  • Page Navigation: The end user navigates to a new page or screen.
  • Substantial Content Update: The current page is updated with significant new content, and at least 1 minute has passed since the last refresh.
  • Ad View Duration: The ad unit has been in view for a minimum of 30 seconds, as verified by an MRC-accredited verification company.

Under no circumstances may a Publisher refresh an ad unit more than 20 times per end user session (e.g., in a slideshow or similar formats). This restriction is designed to maintain a positive user experience while ensuring compliance with industry standards.

Onboarding, Monitoring, and Ongoing Review of Publisher Properties

By engaging with Appnerve, the Publisher agrees to allow Appnerve to monitor, record, use, and disclose information related to any Publisher Properties to verify compliance with these Publisher Policies and any associated agreements.

The Publisher is required to inform Appnerve of any new Publisher Properties they wish to be on board for inclusion in the Platform. Appnerve will conduct an onboarding review of these properties to ensure they meet the necessary standards and compliance requirements.

Appnerve reserves the right to refuse participation of any Publisher and/or Publisher Properties at its sole discretion. Even if a Publisher Property is initially approved by Appnerve, the company retains the right to terminate participation if, at any point, it determines that the Publisher has violated any terms of the Agreement or failed to adhere to the required policies.

Disqualification or Termination

Failure to adhere to or comply with any of the terms and conditions outlined in these Publisher Policies, or any applicable agreement with Appnerve, may result in the disqualification, suspension, or termination of the Publisher, its Publisher Properties, and any associated accounts. In such cases, Appnerve reserves the right to withhold or cancel any amounts that would otherwise be payable to the Publisher, including any accrued fees, commissions, or compensation.

Appnerve has the sole discretion to determine whether a Publisher or Publisher Property is in violation of these policies and may take the following actions if any breach or non-compliance is identified:

  • Suspension of Account: Appnerve may temporarily suspend the Publisher’s access to the platform, services, or any related features while the violation is under investigation or remedial action is being taken.
  • Termination of Account: Appnerve may permanently terminate the Publisher’s account and all associated Publisher Properties if deemed necessary, particularly in cases of serious or repeated policy violations.
  • Withholding of Payments: In the event of a breach, Appnerve may withhold payment of any sums due to the Publisher until the issue is resolved or if the Publisher’s actions have directly led to financial losses or reputational harm to Appnerve.
  • Cancellation of Services: Appnerve reserves the right to immediately cancel or discontinue providing services, including access to the Platform, to any Publisher found to violate these policies.

Appnerve’s decisions regarding suspension, termination, and payment withholding are final and made at Appnerve’s sole discretion. Publishers are advised to promptly address any violations upon notification from Appnerve to avoid disruption of services or payments.

Responsibility for Third-Party Practices

Appnerve may attribute to the Publisher any activity originating from the IP address(es) associated with the Publisher Properties, as well as any actions taken by computers, servers, or cloud-based services owned, used, or contracted by the Publisher or in the Publisher’s physical possession or control. This includes, but is not limited to, actions carried out by third-party networks, affiliates, contractors, or any other persons or entities engaged in activities related to the Publisher Properties.

It is the Publisher’s sole responsibility to ensure that no advertising network, affiliate, or any third party associated with the Publisher engages in any prohibited practices or methods in relation to the Publisher Properties, as outlined in these Publisher Policies. The Publisher must maintain control over these third-party activities and ensure that they comply with all applicable policies and regulations.

Appnerve will not be liable for any consequences arising from such third-party activities, including, but not limited to, the invalidation of views or engagements, the withholding or cancellation of payments, or the suspension or disabling of the Publisher’s account area. This applies even if such issues are caused by third-party actions or parties outside of the Publisher’s direct control.

The Publisher acknowledges and agrees that these Publisher Policies are incorporated into and form an integral part of the Agreement between the Publisher and Appnerve. Any capitalized terms not specifically defined within these Publisher Policies shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Agreement.

The term “Agreement” refers to all documents, contracts, or terms of service signed or accepted by both parties, which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Advertising Services Agreement, including all related Addenda and Amendments;
  • Appnerve IOs (Insertion Orders) and any other applicable agreements.

By agreeing to these terms, the Publisher acknowledges their responsibility for any third-party activities, ensuring compliance and addressing any violations promptly to avoid adverse consequences.