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Old 09-17-2014, 12:23 PM  
InfoGuy
80/20 Rule
 
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Los Angeles
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Misusing a trademark can diminish its strength. While it may be ok for Mercedes, BMW, Honda, Toyota, etc to allow dealers to use their brands for marketing, the same can't be said about mainstream/porn website sponsors allowing affiliates to use their marks.

Auto dealers are carefully scrutinized, go through extensive training and must commit millions of dollars to their businesses. These large businesses have lawyers and are responsible, whereas typical mainstream/porn affiliates are much less sophisticated small operations with limited resources. Large affiliate programs can have over a million affiliates, who do not require special qualifications or training. For affiliate programs, it's strictly a numbers game. A handful of super affiliates will bring in big numbers, some will do good business and the vast majority will just spin their wheels (pun intended) without making any sales. It's easier for sponsors to simply deny all affiliates from using their marks by default and then allow a few responsible ones who generate business to use their brands by request.
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