Rules & ResourcesBylaws & Rules
Chapter B: Article 4 - Miscellaneous
B 4.1 Subscriptions
Subscriptions more than three months in arrears shall not be included in paid circulation but shall be included in non-paid distribution.
B 4.2 International Subscriptions
Subscriptions from countries outside of U.S. and Canada and the West Indies may be included in paid circulation provided they are not more than six months in arrears and provided that in all other respects they meet the Bureau's definition of a paid circulation subscriber.
B 4.3 Dealer Accounts
That portion of a retail dealer, agent or distributor account that is over three months in arrears does not meet the Bureau's definition of paid circulation and is ineligible for inclusion in paid circulation. The publisher must include this circulation in non-paid distribution along with a brief description in the explanatory paragraph of ABC Publisher's Statements and Audit Reports.
B 4.4 Checking Copies
One copy sent to an advertiser for checking purposes and all copies sent to advertising agencies for checking purposes shall be considered as checking copies to advertisers and advertising agencies. (See Bylaw 2.12.)
B 4.5 Net Cash Received for Subscriptions
Information showing the net total cash which is received for subscriptions shall not be shown in Publisher's Statements, or in the Audit Report.
B 4.6 Lost, Missing, Damaged, and Unsold
Lost, missing, damaged or other unsold copies shall be classed as returns and deducted as returns.
B 4.7 Bonuses, Allowances, and Limitations of Returns
When a publisher provides bonuses, allowances, salaries, rebates or price differentials to or through agents, distributors, wholesalers, independent contractors or other third parties, or when a publisher limits the number of returns it will accept, the publisher must maintain and provide ABC auditors with auditable records so that the auditors can determine whether or not the circulation was generated in compliance with the rules defining paid circulation. Auditable records include, but are not limited to, periodic surveys (quarterly or more frequently) of non-return or limited-return accounts, and documentation that credits were not intended to reimburse carriers for copies that were either not sold or that did not meet the ABC definition of paid circulation.
B 4.8 Employment of ABC Auditors
See also C 8 for newspapers.
If, within 12 months after the release of its audit, a publisher member employs or contracts to employ one of the Bureau's auditors, or any other employee of the Bureau who directly participated in or reviewed that member's audit, the Bureau shall conduct a reaudit or review of the audit, for the same period as covered by the prior audit. The publisher hiring or contracting to hire such person shall pay for such reaudit or review.
B 4.9 Field Served
The "Field Served" statement in Bureau reports shall be a description of the field and shall exclude statements of a promotional nature. It shall be subject to edit by the managing director.
B 4.10 Reports Furnished to Publisher Members
A publisher member shall receive without charge a digital copy of their own Publisher's Statement, Interim Statement and Audit Report.
B 4.11 Purchase of Reports
A publisher member or their representative may purchase copies of the Publisher's Statements for the latest regular statement period, Interim Statements, FAS-FAX and latest Audit Reports of the publication or any other member publication upon assurance of the purchaser that these are for use and distribution by the member and their representatives only, and will not be provided in quantity to others.
Copies of out-of-date Audit Reports, FAS-FAX and Publisher's Statements for the completion of files may be purchased by a publisher member or their representative upon assurance of the purchaser that these are for internal use only and will not be distributed.
B 4.12 Bulletins on Violations
All bulletins issued and distributed to members by the Bureau, involving the breach or violation by a member of the rules, standards and bylaws, are for information and internal use only of members and shall not be supplied to members for redistribution.
