The following guidelines and policies (“Publisher Policies”) of Smaato, Inc. (“Smaato”) describe the advertising standards applicable to any person or entity that makes websites, mobile websites, applications, mobile applications, connected television or over-the-top platforms, and/or any other digital properties available to Smaato for monetization via the Smaato Services (“Publisher”). Any such websites, mobile websites, applications, mobile applications, connected television or over-the-top platforms, or other digital properties made available by Publisher to Smaato shall be referred to herein as the “Publisher Properties”. The Smaato Services (a) facilitate the delivery and insertion of demand partner advertisements (“Ads”) through the Publisher Properties to end-users and (b) may be composed of web pages available at www.smaato.com and software, including the Smaato SDK and the Smaato Publisher Platform (SPX).
In order to use the Smaato Services, Publisher agrees to abide by these Publisher Policies. Any violation of these Publisher Policies is subject to enforcement as provided below, in Smaato’s sole discretion.
Smaato reserves the right to update these Publisher Policies at any time. If an update includes material changes, Smaato shall provide notice of such update via email. By continuing to use the Smaato Services subsequent to such notice, Publisher agrees to abide by the updated version of these Publisher Policies.
2. Prohibited Content
Publisher is prohibited from using the Smaato Services if the Publishers Properties feature or promote any of the following content categories:
Graphic or explicit violence (IAB25-2 (Extreme Graphic/Explicit Violence));
Adult, sexual, or obscene content (IAB25-3 (Pornography));
Discriminating, offensive, or profane material or hate content (IAB25-4 (Profane Content), IAB25-5 (Hate Content));
Weapons, weapon accessories, or ammunition (IAB26-1 (Illegal Content));
Illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia (IAB26-1 (Illegal Content));
Tobacco or tobacco accessories (IAB9-9 (Cigars));
Spyware, malware, viruses, illegal hacking, or other materials that are intended to damage or render inoperable software or hardware (IAB26-3 (Spyware/Malware));
P2P file sharing, torrenting, or other content violating or infringing upon any third-party intellectual property rights (IAB26-2 (Warez), IAB26-4 (Copyright Infringement));
Content advocating the superiority of a specific race/ethnic group, national origin, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, language, status as a veteran, or any other legally protected status (IAB23 (Religion & Spirituality), IAB25-5 (Hate Content));
Gambling or online casinos (if there is the ability to cash out in real currency) (IAB9-7 (Card Games));
Lotteries (IAB3-7 (Government));
Pharmaceutical or health products and services, including prescription medications (IAB7-5 (Alternative Medicine));
Abuse support (IAB7-28 (Incest/Abuse Support));
Substance abuse (IAB7-42 (Substance Abuse));
Hunting and shooting (IAB17-18 (Hunting/Shooting));
Virtual private networks (VPNs), proxy servers, or similar services;
Non-Valuable Content including sites that:
Have little to no value content other than ads
Display outdated news or blogs
Have no evidence of user engagement
Are designed for the sole purpose of ad monetization
Content promoting or containing links that are disparaging to Smaato or Smaato’s partners.
The Publisher Properties must be directly owned, operated, or controlled by Publisher; any exception to the foregoing must be reviewed and approved by Smaato. Publisher Properties which exist for the sole purpose of gathering Ad impressions are prohibited.
3. Restricted Content
The Publishers Properties may be permitted, in Smaato’s sole discretion, to feature or promote the following restricted content categories, provided that Publisher has appropriate controls to ensure that such content complies with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations of the country and jurisdiction in which the content is served:
Incentivized clicks, videos, or downloads (IAB25-7 (Incentivized));
Publisher may allow rewarded video advertising, provided that the rewards offered to end-users for viewing the Ads are: (a) designated as a rewarded Ad by Publisher, (b) for the app in which the video Ad is displayed, and (c) virtual (i.e., having no monetary value). Publisher shall assume all responsibility and liability for such rewards.
4. Technical Requirements
Application/Adspace Setup
Applications and adspaces must be set up within SPX and adhere to the following requirements:
The combination of application and adspace name must identify the traffic source, placement of the Ad, and the requested banner size (non-cryptic).
The application and adspace details must provide a valid URL that links to the inventory where the Ads are embedded:
In-App: Valid app store link.
Mobile applications must be published in official, industry-recognized app stores. Any exceptions (e.g., third-party app stores, pre-installs, or regional limitations) must be submitted to and approved by the Smaato Team.
Mobile Web: Valid website domain.
The application type and category must match its content.
Publisher must declare Smaato as an authorized seller of its advertising inventory in the ads.txt file(s) and/or app-ads.txt file(s) associated with the Publisher Properties, per the official guidance provided by the IAB Technology Laboratory. Smaato reserves the right to require an update to such files from time to time and Publisher agrees to reasonably comply with any such requests by Smaato.
Transparency
The following requirements relate to the information Publisher must send to Smaato in each Ad request and provide in the setup within SPX. In general, each Ad traffic source (i.e., website domain or mobile application) must be split by single website/application in SPX. The actual traffic source must match the disclosed traffic source provided within SPX or the Ad request. The requirements differ for in-app traffic and mobile web traffic:
In-App Traffic
The bundle/application information must be provided in the App Details’ Download URL within SPX. (The bundle must conform to the standard format defined by the relevant app store.)
If applicable, the advertising ID and consent should be sent within the Ad request. Fake advertising IDs will be considered fraudulent.
Mobile Web Traffic
The full URL information of the Ad placement/Ad hosting webpage must be provided.
Viewability
To ensure the authenticity of impressions, Ads must be:
Visible (i.e., not hidden, out of page, stacked, or stuffed); and
Placed reasonably and oriented correctly within the content, including an acceptable number or density of Ads in relation to the content.
Video
Video adspaces must also abide by the additional following requirements:
Video adspaces must be labeled correctly as one of the following types:
Instream: Adspace located within a video player with Ads displayed before, during, or after video content.
Outstream: Adspace located within content.
Interstitial: Full screen adspace located between two pages of content.
Rewarded: User receives a non-monetary reward for viewing a video Ad.
Adspace dimensions must match the inventory type (e.g., full screen interstitial).
Video must be clickable throughout play (except on rewarded adspaces).
On request by Smaato, a demo and/or test environment of video placements must be provided.
5. Ad Request Strategy
If Publisher receives a “Currently no ad available” response, the interval between new Ad requests must be at least 10 seconds.
Publishers may only request Ads when Publisher Properties are on screen.
For infinite scroll Publisher Properties, Publisher must insert Ads in soon-to-be visible areas only.
6. Ad Refresh
Except for sticky Ads, Publisher must not refresh Ads prior to a change in the content of the Publisher Properties.
Publisher may only refresh Ads that are viewable.
Publisher must not allow background traffic (i.e., no Ad refreshes are permitted behind covering elements such as full screen videos).
The refresh rate (i.e., the time an Ad impression is shown prior to replacement) must be at least 30 seconds.
Video Ad placements should not be automatically refreshed.
7. Ad Positioning and Appearance
Publisher must not:
Excessively advertise, stack Ads, or place Ads next to each other;
Place Ads:
Above the fold for 300 x 250 or larger Ads;
Below the footer of mobile website Publisher Properties; or
In non-interactive areas including, but not limited to, the lock screen and out-of-app spaces;
Place hidden or invisible Ads;
Rescale, format, rotate, or modify Ads; or
Place incentivized Ads, except for rewarded videos as provided in Section 2 above.
8. Enforcement Policy
In addition to Smaato’s rights and remedies under Smaato’s Terms of Service and/or any other applicable agreements Publisher entered into with Smaato, any violation of these Publisher Policies may result in the suspension of the Publishers Properties from the Smaato Services, in Smaato’s sole discretion. Smaato further reserves the right to suspend other Publisher Properties on the Smaato Services, reject future Publisher Properties, or terminate Publisher’s account.
9. Contact
Please contact with any questions regarding these Publisher Policies.