Home

Claria

Report: Microsoft Pondering Acquisition of Adware Firm Claria

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 30, 2005 - 7:07am.
New York -- Microsoft has been in talks over the last two weeks to purchase Claria, a provider of adware that has been sued by publishers in the past over its pop-up ads, The New York Times reported. Microsoft was reportedly willing to offer as much as $500 million for Claria (formerly Gator), although a person close to Microsoft told The Times that the deal may still fall through. Microsoft may see Claria, which offers software that monitors Web surfing habits in order to serve more relevant ads to users, as a means of enhancing its search advertising capabilities in the face of rival Google. Claria's BehaviorLink software is currently installed on some 40 million PCs. Critics of the deal within Microsoft say the purchase could provoke a negative reaction from privacy advocates, who see Claria's software as intrusive.
tags: Reports | Microsoft | Adware | Claria |

Pop-Up Ad Firm Claria Settles Several Trademark Infringement Suits

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 2, 2004 - 5:44am.
San Francisco -- Claria (formerly Gator), a controversial provider of pop-up ads that display on top of competitors' ads, has settled trademark lawsuits brought against the company by Wells Fargo, Quicken Loans and others, CNET News.com reported. Settlement terms were not disclosed. As many as 13 companies have sued Claria, with some suits still pending, over its adware that has been distributed alongside the Kazaa file-sharing program, arguing that placing the ads over their own violated trademarks. Other plaintiffs including UPS, Hertz and L.L. Bean have also settled their claims with Claria. "These (cases) have been settled to the satisfaction of all parties," Claria spokesman Scott Eagle told News.com. "Claria will continue to protect (its) business model." Claria added that it has established business relationships with some of the former plaintiffs. The company's advertising software business practices have still not been vetted in court, although pending litigation against Claria rival WhenU.com is slated to go to trial next year.
tags: Claria | Pop-Up Ad | Settles | Trademark Infringement Suits |

Adware Firm Claria Withdraws Plans for $150 Million IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 12, 2004 - 3:03am.
Redwood City, Calif. -- Claria (formerly Gator), a developer of pop-up ad technology that tracks users' Web surfing in order to deliver targeted ads, announced through an SEC filing that it has withdrawn its plans to sell up to $150 million in shares through an initial public offering (IPO). The company cited current market conditions for its decision. Redwood City, Calif.-based Claria's controversial "adware" technology, which has been bundled with the Kazaa file-sharing software application, is currently the target of several lawsuits from publishers and states who allege its ads violate trademarks and copyright law.
tags: IPO | Claria | Withdraws | Adwares |

Adware Firm Claria Files for IPO

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 13, 2004 - 6:21am.
Redwood City, Calif. -- Claria, a provider of advertising software formerly known as Gator, has filed for an initial public offering of shares with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company's software has been bundled with downloads of the popular Kazaa file-sharing application, and monitors the surfing habits of users in order to deliver targeted pop-up ads. It also provides software that can automatically fill in forms when ordering products or entering passwords online. Redwood City, Calif.-based Claria has battled several lawsuits against its adware, but claims 43 million people are currently using its products. Claria did not say how much it plans to raise in the IPO, but reported revenue of $90 million for 2003.
tags: IPO | Adware | Claria | Files | Firm |

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.
tags: Internet | Claria | Controversial | Gator |