Editorial Guidelines for Ask.com

Ask.com's mission is to deliver the most relevant answers to your everyday searches. We do this by providing a variety of results that match your search queries on Ask.com. These results are generated through multiple methods - from hand-selected answers to results delivered using state-of-the-art search technology. Below are explanations for how we generate our search results, as well as definitions for some of the terms we use on our results page. If you have any questions about Ask.com's editorial policy, please contact Customer Service.

Automated Search Results
Ask.com delivers its primary search results using it's proprietary search technology. These search results appear under the heading "Web Results". Ask.com search technology uses sophisticated algorithms and Subject-Specific Popularity^SM data to generate the most relevant and authoritative results on the Web.

Sponsored Links
Results appearing under the heading "Sponsored Web Results" or "Sponsored Web Result" are provided by Google, a third party provider of pay for performance search listings. Google generates highly relevant sponsored results by allowing advertisers to bid for placement in this area based on relevant keywords. These results, which are powered by Google's advanced algorithms, are then distributed across the Internet to some of the world's most popular and well-known Web sites, including Ask.

Ask.com Smart Answers
Smart Answers utilize a combination of Ask.com's proprietary algorithmic search and natural language technologies, and structured-data providing quicker access to contextually accurate information. These results appear at the top of the Ask search results page and often present deep links to additional resources that can be found for free on the Web. Sites that these Smart Answer link to should meet the following guidelines:

1) Sites should load quickly and be polished, easy to read and easy to navigate.
2) Sites should be well maintained and updated regularly.
3) Sites should offer thorough and accurate information that provides information that is highly relevant to a user's search term(s).
4) Sites should offer additional links or information related to a user's search term(s).
5) Sites should demonstrate credibility by providing author and source citations and contact information.
6) E-commerce sites - Ask applies additional standards for e-commerce sites. When you ask a question that may involve buying products or services, Ask works to direct you to quality online shopping sites. These additional guidelines for e-commerce sites are listed below:

(a) Sites should provide secure transactions (preferably by SSL/SET)
(b) Sites should disclose policies for customer privacy, returns, exchanges and other customer concerns
(c) Sites should offer many types of the product being sought, relevant brands and/or an appropriate range of products
(d) Sites should provide adequate product information
(e) Sites should offer customer service by phone, preferably 24 hours a day
(f) Sites should be widely reputable and credible, as determined by PriceGrabber, the Better Business Bureau Online, the Public Eye, other media or Ask.com's in-house experience

In the course of searching for great information, Ask has established paid partnerships with web sites that may be included within the Smart Answer resource links. Ask applies its Editorial Guidelines to such web sites, regardless of any financial affiliation.

Weather Results
Ask.com's weather results are provided by CustomWeather.

Adult Content
Ask.com receives millions of searches each day, some of which are sexual in nature. To ensure that our users only receive sexually explicit content when they ask for it and when they are 18 years of age or older, Ask.com presents a filtering alert and filters sexually explicit search results. In addition to alerting the user about the nature of the content, the filter also offers options to:

1. View the adult content; and
2. Once viewing the adult content, returning to the filtered results.

By viewing the adult content an end user agrees that they: are 1. over the age of 18 and have the legal right to possess adult content; 2. understand that the material may involve language, content, images, sounds and themes of an adult or controversial nature; 3. will not provide access to any of the materials in these Web pages to any persons under 18 years old or to any persons who do not have the legal right to access adult materials; 4. understand that all content reflects the views of the Web site authors and are not the views of IAC Search & Media., and that IAC Search & Media has no obligation to delete content that you may find offensive; 5. agree that you will not hold IAC Search & Media responsible for any materials located on these Web pages.