Overview
In order to better serve our sellers, affiliates, and customers, ClickBank has developed these Product Guidelines to clarify what requirements the products in the listed categories must meet. These category-specific requirements apply to the product itself as well as to the marketing, Pitch Page, and other materials used to promote or represent the product. These are general guidelines only and are intended to supplement the information provided in the ClickBank Client Contract.
ClickBank will take corrective action on sellers not in compliance with our guidelines, which may include declining your product, halting sales on your product, removing you from the Marketplace, or deactivating your account.
The following subjects are covered in this article:
- Health, Remedy, and Medical Advice Products
- Environmental, Green, and Homemade Energy Products
- Survival Products
- Adult-Oriented Products
Health, Remedy, and Medical Advice Products
Medical Advice Products are products that claim to improve an individual’s medical condition in some way. These products are generally found in ClickBank’s “Health/Remedies” category.
Why is this category high risk?
Medical Advice Products are sometimes associated with exaggerated claims of benefits and results. Due to their nature, these products come with a high level of risk.
To protect consumers as much as possible, ClickBank requires any seller of affiliate promoting Medical Advice Products to conform to the guidelines described below.
Guidelines
Like all ClickBank product guidelines, these requirements do not constitute legal advice or substitute for a client’s independent obligation to comply with all applicable statutes, regulations, and rules regarding products and product promotions. Clients are expected to consult with qualified legal and advertising professionals regarding the content of all promotions.
Pitch Page
All sellers and/or affiliates offering or promoting Medical Advice Products must conform to the following guidelines on any and all public-facing Pitch Page(s):
- Managing Health Issues: Sellers and affiliates may claim that the product will help manage the customer’s health issues if the condition is not known to be curable.
- Pen Names: Sellers may use pen names or characters to promote their product. However, sellers are not permitted to claim their pen name is a licensed doctor or medical professional. The use of the name of a certified physician or medical professional is permitted as long as the person and their practicing license can be substantiated upon request.
- References To Support Claims: Sellers and affiliates may claim any “fact” statements made in the promotional material. However, this information is required to have a reference piece to back up that the statement is a true.
Incurable Diseases
On a public-facing pitch page that promotes or sells information regarding methods to treat, cure, or otherwise manage an illness, ClickBank uses WebMD as its primary source of information for disease and treatments.
Any reference to a “cure” will be checked against WebMD. Using the word “cure” will only be allowed if WebMD specifically states there is a cure for the disease. Otherwise, if WebMD states “there is no known cure” the word cure will be prohibited and alternatives must be used for the product.
According to WebMD, the following specific list of diseases CANNOT be cured as of Jan 20, 2015:
- Ebola
- Polio
- Diabetes, both type I and II
- Herpes
- Cancer
- Lupus Erythematosus
- Influenza
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
- HIV/AIDS
- Asthma
- The Common Cold
- Alzheimer’s and Dementia
- Tinnitus
- Sensory (Hearing and Vision)
- All neurological disorders
We will no longer be accepting products that claim to treat or cure neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Tinnitus.
We will also no longer be accepting products that claim to treat or cure Cancer, Vitiligo, STIs/STDs such as HIV/AIDS, herpes, HPV and genital warts.
Further, the client must confirm they have sufficient information to substantiate any statements made by that medical professional.
For reference, here is an example for type II diabetes.
- Using the following article as a reference point: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/tc/type-2-diabetes-can-you-cure-it-topic-overview
- WebMd states: “There is no known cure for type 2 diabetes. But it can be controlled. And in some cases, it goes into remission.”
- ClickBank will allow the following words to be used in sales materials: “reverse”, “control”, “manage” and “diminish.” We will not NOT allow “cure” for Type II diabetes.
Portrayals
In sales materials, any reference to or portrayal by a doctor must be treated as the equivalent of a testimonial. The testimonial must be a positive response from the client that they acknowledge and have indeed received information and permission from an active and licensed medical professional.
Further Claims
For neurological and sensory products, sellers may not claim the product will regain lost memory, vision or hearing. Sellers may claim to have preventative care for these types of ailments but you cannot regain what you've already lost. Sellers may not guarantee results of any kind.
For hair loss products, sellers may not claim to regrow hair, but may claim to prevent hair loss. Sellers may not guarantee results of any kind.
Disclaimer
We require that sellers use the following disclaimer on their web pages for products of this type:
The website's content and the product for sale is based upon the author's opinion and is provided solely on an "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" basis. You should do your own research and confirm the information with other sources when searching for information regarding health issues and always review the information carefully with your professional health care provider before using any of the protocols presented on this website and/or in the product sold here. Neither ClickBank nor the author are engaged in rendering medical or similar professional services or advice via this website or in the product, and the information provided is not intended to replace medical advice offered by a physician or other licensed healthcare provider. You should not construe ClickBank's sale of this product as an endorsement by ClickBank of the views expressed herein, or any warranty or guarantee of any strategy, recommendation, treatment, action, or application of advice made by the author of the product.
Environmental, Green, and Homemade Energy Products
“Environmental Products” are products that claim to affect the energy or power use in a home or residence. These products are generally sold in ClickBank’s “Green Products” category.
Why is this category high risk?
Environmental Products are sometimes associated with exaggerated claims of benefits and performance. Due to their nature, and as a constant quality and compliance review, ClickBank has determined these products come with a high level of risk.
To protect consumers as much as possible, ClickBank requires any seller of affiliate offering or promoting Environmental Products to conform to the guidelines described below.
Guidelines
All sellers and/or affiliates offering or promoting Environmental Products must conform to the following guidelines on any and all public-facing Pitch Pages:
- Efficiency Claims: Sellers and/or affiliates may not claim that an Environmental Product has a higher than 90% efficiency.
- Free Energy Claims – Sellers and/or affiliates may not claim that Environmental Products produce “free energy” or make similar claims.
- Perpetual Motion Claims: Sellers and/or affiliates may not claim that Environmental Products generate power through “perpetual motion” or make claims regarding similar power/energy generation methods.
- “Take Your House Off the Grid” Claims: Sellers and/or affiliates may claim that Environmental Products will allow a person to “take his/her house off the grid” only if the seller and/or affiliate explicitly states how energy is generated AND stored or recovered 24 hours a day.
- “Pay Your Energy” Claims: Sellers and/or affiliates may claim that Environmental Products will allow “power companies to pay you for energy” or make similar claims only if the seller and/or affiliate clearly and conspicuously disclaims that there are limitations to such paybacks specific to each jurisdiction.
- Magnetic Power Claims: Sellers and/or affiliates may not claim that magnetic power can be a sustainable energy source or that it can be used as a method of powering a home.
- Sustainable Energy Source Claims: Sellers and/or affiliates may not claim that power/energy from the airwaves (e.g., Tesla energy) is a sustainable energy source, that it can be used as a method of powering a home or that it can be used as a method of creating surplus energy for sale.
Scam Verification
ClickBank will use Open4Energy as its guide for determining whether or not a product is considered to be a "scam." Any proposed product found on the Renewable Energy List (linked here) below will NOT be accepted.
Disclaimer
The following disclaimer must be included on the pitch page for all products in this category:
CLICKBANK AND ALL OF ITS AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES (THE “CLICKBANK PARTIES”) DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, AND DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE CLICKBANK PARTIES FURTHER DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF THE USE, INABILITY TO USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, ANY REFERENCES USED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, OR THE MATERIALS, INFORMATION, OR PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES. PLEASE READ THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT AND ALL ACCOMPANYING CLICKBANK POLICIES TO ENSURE YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT, ALL CLICKBANK POLICIES AND ALL APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Survival Products
Survival Products are products meant to aid or train customers in survival.
Why is this category high risk?
Survival Products are sometimes associated with exaggerated claims of benefits and performance. Due to their nature, and as a constant quality and compliance review, ClickBank has determined these products come with a high level of risk.
To protect consumers as much as possible, ClickBank requires any seller and/or affiliate offering or promoting Survival Products to conform to the guidelines described below.
NOTE: Many of the same items that are covered in the Alternative Energy/Green Product Guidelines pertain to Survival Products, as there is crossover between the two niches.
Guidelines
All sellers and/or affiliates offering or Promoting Survival Products must conform to the following guidelines:
- Pen Name: We require that the seller use a simple pen name disclaimer stating the person or character in the sales pitch is an alias or pen name if he is using a pen name.
- Fact Statement Claims: Sellers and/or affiliates may claim any “fact” statements made in the promotional material. However, this information is required to have a reference piece to verify the truth of the statement.
- Upfront Promises to Consumers: Sellers and/or affiliates must be up front to the customer with what they will be receiving for their purchase. The more detail you can provide the better their expectations will be set which will help you lower customer service issues.
- Fear or Panic Products: Products that use promotional tactics to incite fear or panic are not permitted.
Disclaimer
The following disclaimer must be included on the pitch page for all products in this category:
CLICKBANK AND ALL OF ITS AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES (THE “CLICKBANK PARTIES”) DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, AND DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. THE CLICKBANK PARTIES FURTHER DISCLAIM ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES) ARISING OUT OF THE USE, INABILITY TO USE, OR THE RESULTS OF USE OF THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, ANY REFERENCES USED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES, OR THE MATERIALS, INFORMATION, OR PROCEDURES CONTAINED IN THE PROMOTIONAL GUIDELINES. PLEASE READ THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT AND ALL ACCOMPANYING CLICKBANK POLICIES TO ENSURE YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATIONS. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT YOU ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CLICKBANK CLIENT CONTRACT, ALL CLICKBANK POLICIES AND ALL APPLICABLE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
Adult-Oriented Products
There are a number of products on the ClickBank platform that are adult in nature. These products may fall under multiple categories.
Guidelines
Public Facing Pitch Page (Before Any Age Verification or Age Restriction)
- Women’s Breasts: A woman’s breasts may only be shown in photographs of a clinical nature. The areola must be obscured with a black box or circle 2x larger than the areola itself.
When the photograph contains 2 (two) people regardless of gender, the woman’s breasts must be covered by clothing or concealed. - Genitalia: Male or female genitals in photographs MUST be covered by clothing.
- Anatomical Representations or Cartoons: Cartoons or anatomical representations of male or female genitals may be shown. The image may NOT extend above the chest or below the knees.
Cartoons or anatomical representations must be used individually and may NOT be used to demonstrate any particular exercise or sexual act. - Photographs and Videos
- Videos or photographs may show two (2) people engaged in touching or massage that remains above the waist or below the knee.
- Women’s breasts and genitals must be covered by clothing or concealed in the video. Men’s genitals must also be covered by clothing or concealed in the video.
- Videos may NOT imply or suggest that they are showing any explicit sexual acts.
- Only one photograph depicting sexual activity following the above guidelines may be used on the page and is subject to approval.
- Explanations
- Audio and/or video explanations of specific arousal or sexual methods or techniques following the above guidelines are NOT permitted.
- Profanity may not be used on public facing Pitch or Thank You pages. Using symbols for written content or "Beeps" in video content in place of profanity is allowed.
Public Facing Pitch Page (After Age Verification/Restriction and With Appropriate Warning)
These types of pages may utilize the following relaxed standards:
- Women’s Breasts: A woman’s breasts may only be shown in photographs of a clinical nature without the areola being obscured.
- Photography: Up to 6 photographs depicting sexual activity following the above guidelines may be used on the page and is subject to approval.
- Explanations: Audio and/or video explanations of specific arousal or sexual methods or techniques following the above guidelines are permitted.
Product Content
Adult oriented products are subject to some additional requirements including:
- Images – All Images and videos will be evaluated based on the same guidelines as the public facing Pitch and Thank You pages.
- Profanity – We will permit clients to use terms in the product that would currently be found on our profanity list and would not be allowed on the public facing pages.
- Harm to Others – We will not allow clients to provide information or guidance that would in any way harm others.
Disclaimer
In addition to the above, we currently ask that sellers use the following disclaimer on their Pitch and Thank You Pages for products in this niche:
"This product contains adult language and situations, and is not meant for those under 18 years old."
Also, we request that sellers not use slang terms in their promotions, but rather clinical terms if necessary.
Additional Resources & Related Articles
- KNOWLEDGE BASE: Creating Your First Product
KNOWLEDGE BASE: ClickBank Client Contract