Misleading Content Policies

Ads or site content that attempt to mislead site visitors threatens customer safety. Microsoft bans such content, including what can be reasonably perceived as being deceptive, fraudulent or harmful to site visitors. Examples include: unsubstantiated claims, free offers or price promises, misleading ads and promotion of third-party products/services. For more specific policies on misleading content, please refer to the description below.

Unsubstantiated claims

An ad that includes unproven claims or endorsements is not allowed. Example: Ads may not claim an association with government programs when none exists. Without written approval from the government, the advertiser may not use “.gov” in ad copy or URLs and it may not display government symbols on its website.

• The landing page must prominently display any special prices, discounts or free offers that are described in the ad.
  • For example, if your ad offers select movies at half price, the landing page must display the movies that are at half price.
• The terms and conditions of an offer must be presented prior to the sign-up or purchase decision. The information disclosure (or notice that an information disclosure applies) must be made at the same time as the aforementioned statement. It must be clear, prominent and in a font equal in size to that of the base font of the landing page.
• If the ad or landing pages contain “free,” “complimentary” or other similar offers, your ad and landing page must comply with all applicable legal requirements.
• The landing page must feature any special prices, discounts or free offers that are described in the ad.

• Prices and payment terms must be clear and accurate. Subscription services must be clearly disclosed upfront.
  For example:
  • Ads and landing pages may not claim a price of $9.99 when the true price is $9.99 per month.
• Ads and landing pages must not charge money for products or services that are widely available elsewhere for free or otherwise exploit users’ unfamiliarity with standard costs.
  For example:
  • Advertisers may not charge for downloading a product, like Skype, when the same software is offered for free by the owner.   

Advertisers offering services or otherwise promoting a third-party product may not claim affiliation with the owner or manufacturer of the product when no such relationship exists.

• Advertisers may not state or imply that they are the owner of a product or service when it is not the case, and must disclose when the product or service may also be available somewhere else (e.g., by the owner).
• Advertisers must be accurate when describing their relationship with the owner of a product or service (e.g., if they are authorized distributors).
• Brands, logos, etc., may not be used deceptively, either in ad copy or website, in a way that suggests the site, product or service is owned, managed, promoted or endorsed by the owner of the product or service, unless a qualified relationship exists (parent-affiliate, certified partners, authorized resellers, etc.).
  • Certified partners and resellers must comply with the requirements of the certification procedures, including brand usage policies, and may not abuse their certification credentials for the purpose of misrepresenting affiliation or endorsement, or use the certification credentials to convey legitimacy to their sites for deceptive purposes.
• Advertisers may not use misleading display or destination URLs or domains.
• All sites must provide access to contact information, such as a valid phone number, email, contact form or mailing address.
• Advertisers must not claim to provide a service that can only be provided by the actual owner of the products or service advertised. For example, a third party may not claim to be able to reset email passwords.
• The fulfillment of the original customer’s request, as advertised in ad copy, must not be made conditional to the provision or purchase of other products or services. Other products or services may be promoted on the website, but they must be clearly identified and it must be easy for the user to decline them.
• Advertisers may not promote online technical support to consumers for products or services that the advertisers do not directly own.

All disclosures and statements required by the policies must be made available in close proximity to the offer, and must be clear, prominent and legible.