Medscape Advertising Policy
This advertising policy explains how we handle advertising and sponsored content, how we distinguish it from editorial content and how you may contact us to ask questions or comment on our Web sites.
About This Policy
Web Sites Covered
Reference to "Medscape" or "We" means Medscape, LLC, including any company that we control (for example a subsidiary that we own). Reference to "Web Site" means our internet website, Medscape.com.
We have a corporate site where you can read more about our company, obtain investor information, and find out how to contact us at www.wbmd.com.
This Advertising Policy applies to Medscape.com. You should read the advertising policy at each Web site that you visit after you leave Medscape.com. We are not responsible for how other Web sites handle advertising once you leave Medscape.com.
Advertising Policy Changes
Minor changes to the policy may occur that will not affect the overall goals this policy is designed to achieve. When the policy changes in a way that significantly affects the way we handle advertising matters, we will clearly draw the attention of our users to the change. We will post policy changes on our Web sites in a timely manner.
Advertising Policies
At Medscape, we have always clearly separated the editorial content and process from advertising. Advertising spaces such as banners and badges are clearly marked. Likewise, any content provided by an advertising sponsor is clearly marked as such, and is physically separated from editorial content. We have sole and absolute discretion with respect to interpretation and enforcement of this policy and all other issues associated with advertising on our Web site. We are also selective in the advertising we accept. Advertising on our site is provided by WebMD Professional Services, LLC, an affiliate of Medscape. Our advertising policies are as follows:
- We will clearly distinguish advertising from health information content, using identifying words, design, or placement. We will design Medscape.com to avoid confusion between advertising and health information content.
- It is the responsibility of the advertiser to comply with the laws and regulations of the United States of America, the country in which the site is based. This includes pharmaceutical advertising to physicians that must be in compliance with FDA guidelines for Direct to Physician (DTP) advertising. We reserve the right to review all Advertising for compliance with applicable laws and regulations and, if we become aware of any breach or potential breach of any applicable law or regulation or of these guidelines, we may remove the advertising.
- We will have sole and absolute discretion with respect to interpretation and enforcement of this policy and all other issues associated with advertising on Medscape.com. We may change this policy at any time in its sole discretion by posting a revised policy to Medscape.com.
- Under no circumstances will our acceptance of an advertisement be considered an endorsement of the product(s) and/or service(s) advertised or the company that manufactures, distributed, or promotes such product(s) and/or service(s).
- We reserve the right to reject, cancel, or remove at any time any advertising from Medscape.com for any reason and will provide prompt notice to the advertiser upon rejection, cancellation, or removal of any advertising, together with an explanation following the rejection, cancellation, or removal. We will not accept advertising that, in our opinion, makes unsubstantiated claims of therapeutic benefit for particular products or contains false or misleading information. In addition, we will not accept advertising that, in our opinion, is not factually accurate and in good taste.
- We will not permit at any time the placement of any advertising for illegal or objectionable products. Advertising must not contain fraudulent, deceptive, or offensive material, 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. Advertising must not be related to any of the following: alcohol, firearms, ammunition, fireworks, gambling, pornography, or tobacco.
- Advertisers must respect the terms of our privacy policy, and may not attempt to individually identify any users of Medscape.com or obtain inappropriate access through other technological means to personally identifiable information.
- Advertisers will not influence the way any search results for specific information by keyword or topic are displayed on Medscape.com. We will post all of the variables used to determine relevance ranking and the order of search results presented to Medscape.com readers. We reserves the right to feature original Medscape material or content within search results, and any such hierarchy of search results will be free of any influence from advertisers. However, we will target advertising or sponsored health information content to users based on information about them or their use of Medscape.com, including searches they conduct. In addition, we provide a separate area on the search results page in which sponsors and advertisers may purchase space to list their content or advertising.
- No advertising shall be permitted which may injure the good name or reputation of Medscape or Medscape.com.
Feedback
We welcome any comments, questions, or complaints you have about this advertising policy or our Web sites. Please feel free to contact us by sending an email to editor2@medscape.net.
Related Information
Revision date: This policy was last updated on February 22, 2008.
