“German media giant Axel Springer, which operates top European newspapers like Bild and Die Welt, and who recently bought a controlling stake in Business Insider for $343 million, has a history of fighting back against ad-blocking software that threatens its publications’ business models,” Sarah Perez reports for TechCrunch.
“Now, it’s taking that fight to mobile ad blockers, too,” Perez reports. “According to the makers of the iOS content blocker dubbed ‘Blockr,’ which is one of several new iOS 9 applications that allow users to block ads and other content that slows down web browsing, Axel Springer’s WELTN24 subsidiary took them to court in an attempt to stop the development and distribution of the Blockr software.”
“Blockr’s lawyers argued in a hearing on November 19 that its software is legal and should be allowed to continue, and that it’s the user’s choice to use an ad blocker. In the hearing, the court seemed to agree with the startup, and pointed out that Axel Springer has other options for handling how it wants to deal with ad blockers. For example, it could re-use its prior tactics that involve locking out users from a website when it detects that the visitor is using ad blocking software,” Perez reports. “The final ruling, however, is not until December 10.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: This is just another part of the larger advertising/ad-blocking kerfuffle.
It’s all welcome discourse since the quicker the shit hits the fan, the quicker the solutions to a largely broken system will arise.
Note: Always remember that on our site you can use the AdChoices icon (blue triangle) on any applicable ad to opt out of interest-based ads at any time. That way, people in Tucson can enjoy ads for snow shovels, too!
SEE ALSO:
Axel Springer bans adblock users from accessing Bild website – October 13, 2015Ad-blockers prompt IAB to admit ‘we messed up’; launch L.E.A.N. Ads program – October 16, 2015
AMP: Accelerated Mobile Pages are Google’s response to ad blockers and news apps like Apple News – October 15, 2015
Google’s new Accelerated Mobile Pages meant to keep users in Web browsers and out of dedicated apps – October 7, 2015
Apple pulls ‘Been Choice’ ad-blocker, other apps from App Store citing security concerns – October 9, 2015
Following Apple News, Google preps Accelerated Mobile Pages – October 7, 2015
Apple approves first adblocker that works within mobile apps – October 6, 2015
Rush Limbaugh: What Apple’s iOS 9 ad-blockers will unleash – September 21, 2015
iOS 9 adblocker apps top App Store charts; developer pulls ‘Peace’ adblocker – September 18, 2015
iOS 9 content blocking will transform the mobile Web – August 24, 2015