Pop-up ads are here to stay
A court has ruled in favor of pop-up ads according to this Wall Street Journal story (subscription required):
Both Gator and WhenU offer free software, such as screen savers or video-playing programs, that come bundled with programs that monitor people's Web surfing and then send them ads based on their apparent interests. As a result, a person calling up the U-Haul site might receive an ad from one of that company's rivals, delivered by Gator or WhenU.
Mr. Lee ruled that the WhenU software doesn't "copy or use U-Haul's trademark or copyright material" and thus doesn't infringe on the company's trademarks or copyrights.