Sponsor independence policy

NoetIQs Verify may earn money from sponsors, labeled listings and affiliate links. These rules don't change for anyone:

1. Vendors can't buy evaluations. Payment never affects an evidence level, finding status, operational trust, or a hard stop. Operational trust stays Not evaluated. There is no score, ranking, or badge.
2. Evidence is identified. Every evidence level links to the source it rests on.
3. Commercial relationships are disclosed. Sponsored placements are labeled "Sponsored" and affiliate links are labeled "Paid link," right next to the content, in line with the FTC Endorsement Guides (16 CFR 255.5; FTC FAQ). The FTC specifically says that a review site taking money for higher placement is deceptive, even if it discloses the payment (16 CFR Part 255).
4. Vendors can challenge facts but can't buy removals. Send evidence and we'll correct errors and log the change. Unfavorable but accurate information stays up.
5. Unverified stays unverified. A claim moves up a level only when new evidence arrives, never because of a commercial relationship.
6. A sponsor's ad stays off coverage of that sponsor's product. A sponsor's ad must not appear in any newsletter issue, or on any page, whose lead article or primary subject covers that sponsor's product. The rule applies to a newsletter sponsorship and to other labeled ad inventory. Disclosure does not lift it.

Sponsors buy clearly labeled inventory only. They do not buy editorial treatment, an evidence level, finding status, operational trust, or organic placement. Paid placement inside what looks like an independent ranking is misleading even when disclosed.

Current commercial relationships: none. Explore sponsorship inquiries. Advertising cannot influence evidence levels, operational trust, or organic results. Sponsors cannot affect evaluations.