Page "Spyware" Paragraph 44

Courts have not yet had to decide whether advertisers can be held liable for spyware that displays their ads.

In many cases, the companies whose advertisements appear in spyware pop-ups do not directly do business with the spyware firm.

Rather, they have contracted with an advertising agency, which in turn contracts with an online subcontractor who gets paid by the number of " impressions " or appearances of the advertisement.

Some major firms such as Dell Computer and Mercedes-Benz have sacked advertising agencies that have run their ads in spyware.