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uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

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Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#401

Post by [deleted] »

kristofferR wrote: post #145
tantalor wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do we know when Honey started stealing affiliate links? Was it after the acquisition?

Before, this is how ALL coupon sites/extensions have worked for decades. I'm frankly baffled it weren't more common knowledge, despite being common sense, before the MegaLag video. Did people really think that sites like retailmenot.com or wethrift.com make you open tabs to the shop you're searching for coupons for before you can see the coupon code just for fun?? Affiliate code stuffing is the coupon provider busine…

[deleted]

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#402

Post by maratc »

braiamp wrote: post #397
maratc wrote: post #395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is he suing for class action on the claims of cookie stuffing ? I haven't found the actual case in either link (the second one is for "creators" only), so I can't get the answer myself.

No, he's claiming breach of contract and unfair practices. Cooking stuffing is just a customer issue, not a partner one. He would have no standing on that front.

My understanding of US law is extremely limited, but seeing it's a class action, would the lawyer be able to file the suit on behalf of the customers instead, if e.g. they thought it has a better chance to succeed as such? And if not, is the fact that this suit is filed on "breach of contract and unfair practices" claims presenting any evidence that Honey engaged in a specific legally defined practice of "cookie stuffing"?

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#403

Post by krisoft »

Ekaros wrote: post #391
joe5150 wrote: post #323

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious why Amazon doesn't show you in some obvious way what affiliate code your purchase is linked to, if any. I'm imagining something like the way they used to display your Amazon Smile charity if you used that option. Perhaps they've guessed that it would shock some people to learn how often they inadvertently use affiliate links and they would be discouraged from shopping or find some way to disable the codes…

Or even better give you option to take the affiliate cut as discount. Which would be win for everyone. Affiliate spammers would get knowledge that people gave them money out of charity. Shop would sell more as things are cheaper. And buyers would get cheaper products.

Wait what? :) Are you proposing that amazon should have a “give me a discount on my purchase” check-box on their checkout page? Why would anyone not click that? And if people would click it why would anyone share affiliate links of amazon?

That would completely undermine the incentive structure of the whole structure.

> Which would be win for everyone.

Except of course the content creators. It would not be a win for them.

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#404

Post by maratc »

seanalltogether wrote: post #400
maratc wrote: post #395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is he suing for class action on the claims of cookie stuffing ? I haven't found the actual case in either link (the second one is for "creators" only), so I can't get the answer myself.

My understanding from comments on reddit is that part of the suit relies on tortious interference, basically that honey is damaging the relationships between content creators and vendors by masking the source of referrals and therefore making the vendor believe that the content creator is under-performing in their contract.

This thread has started with GP saying "cookie stuffing is illegal" and me replying "does this qualify as cookie stuffing?" I'm not claiming what they did is legal, I'm claiming it might be illegal, just not for "cookie stuffing". As far as I can see there is no evidence that this particular suit claims "cookie stuffing", so there is nothing in it that can add to the question whether this qualifies as "cookie stuffing" or not. Which was my only original question.

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#405

Post by al_borland »

pseudo0 wrote: post #197
kristofferR wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Before, this is how ALL coupon sites/extensions have worked for decades. I'm frankly baffled it weren't more common knowledge, despite being common sense, before the MegaLag video. Did people really think that sites like retailmenot.com or wethrift.com make you open tabs to the shop you're searching for coupons for before you can see the coupon code just for fun?? Affiliate code stuffing is the coupon provider busine…

It is pretty funny how the MegaLag video claimed it was hard to find discussion of this online, and cited a HN thread from over five years ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21588663 I suppose it's easy for us to forget how an average person really doesn't think about how cookies and referral links work.

Not even just questioning how referral links work, but questioning how a company makes money. I never looked into Honey, but since it wasn't obvious how they were making their money, I assumed it was something sketchy and stayed away from it. My assumption was it was the typical data harvesting and selling (once they had the extension in your browser they could track you). While I think the tracking/selling is immoral, what they did instead seems like fraud (IANAL).

I'm pretty surprised that so many YouTube creators pushed Honey without questioning how they were making money off giving away discounts. Did they not ask, or did Honey have a lie for that as well?

https://help.joinhoney.com/article/30-how-does-honey-make-mo...

I guess they say it, but being owned by PayPal I'm guessing there was an assumption that the commissions weren't being stolen from other people, and the codes being provided were organic codes and not ones created for Honey by the merchant to manipulate the user into thinking they were getting the best deal, when they weren't.

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#406

Post by Ekaros »

krisoft wrote: post #403
Ekaros wrote: post #391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or even better give you option to take the affiliate cut as discount. Which would be win for everyone. Affiliate spammers would get knowledge that people gave them money out of charity. Shop would sell more as things are cheaper. And buyers would get cheaper products.

Wait what? :) Are you proposing that amazon should have a “give me a discount on my purchase” check-box on their checkout page? Why would anyone not click that? And if people would click it why would anyone share affiliate links of amazon? That would completely undermine the incentive structure of the whole structure. > Which would be win for everyone. Except of course the content creators. It would not be a win for…

They would still get cut from those who choose to support them this way. Rest of the people would get discount. There seems to be plenty of people who click affiliate links so creators get money. Those same people would still give the cut to them wouldn't they?

Or then just ban the whole scam.

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#407

Post by akimbostrawman »

johnnyanmac wrote: post #394
akimbostrawman wrote: post #380

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>content creators out there actually looking out and fighting against this BS Maybe they should have looked out before taking advertisement deals for products they don't even try to understand. The only reason all of the "content creator" (influencer would be more fitting) care about this, is for once the product screw over them instead of there audience (just look at betterhelp).

That's the wonderful part: you don't need to have accepted the deal or even have heard of Homey to be affected. There are some decently sized channels in that comment section of the class action That had no relationship with homey sulking about how othrt deals they took were in danger because of seemingly low click through rates.. And it's effect isn't limited to YouTubers. Y ou don't need have been socially engineer…

>you don't need to have accepted the deal or even have heard of Homey to be affected

no you at the very least needed to install the addon for it to swap out your browser cookies.

>And it's effect isn't limited to YouTubers

the reason for the lawsuit based on financial damages very much does only effect them, the people who have referral programs which aren't the audience. ofc it also effects youtuber who didn't have a deal with honey.

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#408

Post by linotype »

akimbostrawman wrote: post #380
johnnyanmac wrote: post #336

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Between this and that botched FOIA request, it feels real good to have content creators out there actually looking out and fighting against this BS that every other content creator lacks the expertise to do anything about. I don't care if they do two ads per video (a normal ad and one for their firm), they more than deserve to shout themselves out.

>content creators out there actually looking out and fighting against this BS Maybe they should have looked out before taking advertisement deals for products they don't even try to understand. The only reason all of the "content creator" (influencer would be more fitting) care about this, is for once the product screw over them instead of there audience (just look at betterhelp).

Don’t forget all the financial YouTubers like Graham Stephan that were hawking FTX.

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#409

Post by NicholasGurr »

phoe-krk wrote: post #187
marcodiego wrote: post #181

[flagged]

> They're not stealing, they're disrespecting a license. Breaking into someone's car and riding off isn't stealing, just disrespecting the concept of ownership.

See also: you wouldn’t download a pizza.

Re: uBlock Origin GPL code being stolen by team behind Honey browser extension

#410

Post by ziml77 »

kelseydh wrote: post #374

Snopes looking real silly for this 2018 fact check: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/honey-browser-extension/

2 years before PayPal bought Honey. It's possible that the extension was fine at the time. Even if it had always been hijacking the referral codes, I wouldn't consider that a scam from the perspective of the users.
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