With the merger of Epic (fka Azoogle) with display expert company Connexeus (fka TrafficMarketPlace), it is time to talk about something I have been looking at for a while now. The Affiliate / Performance marketing industry is about to go through a massive change that will result in major purges and consolidations in the industry. I had hoped to write this in a few weeks, in order to do some more research and wait to learn the fate of some other players, but with this announcement, it felt like a better time. The online performance and affiliate marketing industry is about to go through what will be one of the most major changes ever, with many players disappearing, going bankrupt or merging. Please read this again.

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   I received quite a few emails today from people agreeing that my view point in regards to the FTC’s new rules regarding bloggers was correct. A few people felt that I advocated that there be no compliance in regards to marketing, and that people should be able to sell unsafe items, scam people, rip people off and similar. I clearly stated in the article that was not the case, that the FTC should be focusing on obvious criminals – not small businesses that are promoting their product. As someone who has been intimately involved in law enforcement and exposed more than one obvious scam, I am not an advocate for any sort of anarchy when it comes to business – I believe that the industry, the IAB, the businesses do need to sit down, talk out with everyone, including the FTC, about these issues and create best practices.

  My statement was clearly that I do not believe it is the duty of the government to regulate free speech in any form, whether it be political, religious or business. Restricting business growth, especially during this economic depression is not in anyone's best interest.

  Anyone who has read my writing over the last 10 years know I believe in ethics in advertising, period.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is one of the most unique parts of our government. It has a wide range of powers given by law, which encompass among other things the ability to pass rules and regulations against “unfair and deceptive acts or practices.” The FTC often issues “guidelines” which are no more than notices that they will push for prosecution or civil action against individuals in violation their guidelines. Although these guidelines are often up for public debate, they are not passed by any governing body such as Congress, yet affect us often more than any newly passed law would. While many people see that the FTC is a consumer rights entity within the government, a growing amount of people sees that the FTC is a part of a growing, overreaching government that is interfering with the ability of businesses and often individuals to conduct business in this market economy.

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