Has anyone ever gotten in trouble for using iframes with a CJ program? CJ's terms of service state that "bad faith" methods "including" iframes are prohibited, but iframes can be blackhat or whitehat depending on how they're used.
I use iframes for other programs (like Tribalfusion) where their ads slow performance were hindering my site. I think it is totally justifiable to use iframes for that reason, particularly if they are a performance bottle-neck. Whether or not they allow it... it appears they don't from your quote above.
It would depend on your intent. As long as the user actually visits the site rather than having a frame load up without them knowing you should be OK. With anything it always pays to have CJ confirm its OK otherwise you can lose all your commissions.
Do not use iframes to force a CJ link to automatically open when somebody visits your site. That's what they're referencing.
The reason that rule is there, is so that automated "clicks" aren't driven to links. If the affiliate link is loaded in an iframe everytime someone visits your page, it drives up the "clicks" and this lowers your EPC. This also lowers the EPC for the affiliate program, and account managers tend not to like that...
CJ is telling me it won't let me use an iframe because it can't track the user properly. This sounds like BS to me. I'm opening the iframe using the same URL I would use on any other link to the advertiser's site. I'm not a techie -- but how would that cause the cookie to be lost?