Advertising Policy

Advertising Policy

Advertising Management and Disclaimer

Healthcommunities' sites are funded through display advertising and sponsorships including search ads, banner, badge, contextual ads, sponsored Content, and promotions (“Advertising” or individually, an “Advertisement”) from reputable health organizations, manufacturers and other leading providers of medical and healthy living information (collectively, the “Advertisers”). While we may receive a fee or other compensation for placement of Advertising, as further explained below, neither we nor any provider of Content (as defined in our Terms of Service) on the site (a) endorses or recommends any advertised product or service, or (b) are or shall be responsible for the effectiveness of any such product or service. Advertisers must follow our advertising guidelines, set forth below. Healthcommunities has sole and absolute discretion with respect to interpretation and enforcement of this Advertising policy and all other issues associated with Advertising on the Healthcommunities sites. Healthcommunities reserves the right (i) to reject, cancel, or remove at any time any Advertising from the sites for any reason, (ii) to determine the appropriate placement of the Advertising on the Healthcommunities sites, and (iii) to determine the way in which any and all search results for specific information by keyword or topic are displayed on the Healthcommunities sites. From time-to-time, you may communicate with, or obtain goods and services from these Advertisers. Any such communication and/or interaction is solely between you and such Advertisers and we shall not be responsible or liable to you in any way in connection with these activities.

We do our best to maintain clear separation between Content and Advertising. Advertising is not targeted to individual users but may be placed on a site adjacent to topically related Content. All Advertisements, and/or Content that appears to be or could be misconstrued to be an Advertisement, on our sites will be clearly labeled as an “Advertisement”.

Advertising Guidelines

The following guidelines have been established by Healthcommunities to set forth parameters with respect to Advertising on Healthcommunities’ sites including our acceptance, display and/or removal of Advertising:

1. Healthcommunities shall have sole discretion in determining the types of Advertising that will be accepted and displayed on our sites, and under no circumstances shall Healthcommunities’ acceptance of any Advertisement be considered an endorsement or recommendation by us, or any third party providing Content on our site, of the product(s) and/or service(s) advertised or for the company that manufactures, distributes, or promotes such product(s) or service(s). Advertiser may not in any Advertisement state or imply a commercial relationship with Healthcommunities.
2. Healthcommunities will not accept or permit Advertising that, in Healthcommunities’ opinion, and Advertisers will not submit any Advertising that, is or appears to: (a) be factually inaccurate and/or make unsubstantiated claims, (b) feature illegal or objectionable products or services (including, without limitation, alcohol, firearms, ammunition, fireworks, gambling, pornography, tobacco, or the simulation of news or an emergency), (c) contain material that is fraudulent, deceptive, lewd, obscene or offensive, including material that misrepresents, ridicules, or attacks an individual or group on the basis of age, color, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or handicap, (d) could potentially injure the good name or reputation of Healthcommunities or the Healthcommunities sites, or (e) violate or potentially violate any applicable law or regulation.
3. Advertisers must only submit Advertisements for products or services which are readily available for purchase at the advertised price (with noted tax and delivery fees). The Advertisement must also clearly identify the Advertiser.
4. Advertisers must comply with all applicable domestic and foreign laws, including applicable laws and regulations of regulatory bodies including, without limitation, pharmaceutical advertising to physicians and consumers that must be in compliance with FDA guidelines for Direct to Physician (DTP) and Direct to Consumer (DTC) advertising as well as underwritten CME programs that must be labeled in accordance with the guidelines of the Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and any other relevant accreditation bodies. Healthcommunities will not monitor Advertiser’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

For more information, please review our Terms of Service.

Last Updated April 5, 2010