Controversial Online Ad Firm Gator Changes Name to Claria

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 31, 2003 - 8:51am.

Redwood City, Calif. -- Gator, the controversial online advertising firm that has been sued by publishers over its software that imposes competitors' pop-up ads over existing online ads, announced that it has changed its corporate name to Claria. The move comes in part to distance the company from the negative connotations associated with Gator, which will remain as the name for the company's e-wallet software that allows users to store passwords in a single place. The company's other business delivers targeted ads to 38 million subscribers who signed up to receive them as a condition of receiving free software, such as Sharman Networks' popular Kazaa file-sharing application. Claria also provides online research and Web analytics data. "Today, the [Gator] digital wallet is only one component within just one of our company's three business units. We feel that the Claria Corporation name will allow us to better communicate the expanding breadth of offerings that we provide to consumers and advertisers," said Claria CEO Jeff McFadden.
http://www.claria.com/companyinfo/press/releases/20031030.html
http://news.com.com/2100-1024-5099601.html