Not to sound overly pessimistic, but Yak specifically stated that they put it there to comply with "requirements", and considering the only ones who could make those are the new owners of FA, IMVU....it was IMVU's call, not FA's, and it also proves that when they said IMVU would not change the way the site was run, they were lying out their ass. :/

Really, ads don't fall under "how the site is run". Just like putting a massive ugly billboard outside a bank doesn't affect how it's run.

And FA is the one who would go in to make the change, which they would have to clear with IMVU first, so it was a joint effort.

No, but the side bar does. The statement was that the only changes IMVU would make were additional ads, as per the sale. Yak said that the SIDEBAR was part of the requirement. They said initially that the SIDEBAR would not be removed even after the massive backlash from the community. That sure as heck looks like IMVU running the site to me.

And yes, FA's coders would be the ones who actually code it in, that is true, but also the fact that they'd have to clear anything that changes the site with IMVU first means that IMVU isn't staying hands off in how the site is run, again proving their statement back after the announcement was a lie.

When they say that there will be additional ads, they don't mean "we'll add more ads to the pool for the current ad slots" because that would actually give them a net DECREASE in revenue.

More ads means more space on the page taken up by ads. This is just fundamental to the way the system works.

The reason they bought FA was for the expected ad revenue, so the ads would HAVE to be one of the few areas of the site where IMVU has the final word. It's not just a general site change, it's a change that affects IMVU's income.

As for claiming it was a requirement, it probably was. There was likely a line in the contract that said "SIDEBAR AD"

When they say "how the site is run" they mean things like rules, trouble tickets, TOS and privacy agreements, which could cause actual problems if changed.

Not exactly sure we're on the same page here, so I suppose I'll just let it go. :|

Yep, they actually fixed it. The IMVU ads are still present, but the art-squishing sidebar is no more.

e_e Why did I not know you existed here. *watches*

Dunno!