The Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has released Video Player-Ad Interface Definitions Guidelines (VPAID) for public comment. The guidelines are available at the IAB website and are open for public comment until March 5, 2009.

IAB definitions help to 1) define a standard method for video ads to communicate with video players and enable ad compatibility across all VPAID-compliant players, 2) provide specifications that can be implemented by any type of video player, and 3) cut production costs and improve ROI for advertisers while enabling a less intrusive experience for video content viewers.

“Interactive advertising is a bright spot in the current advertising environment, and digital video is one of its most promising formats,” said Jeremy Fain, vice president of industry services at IAB. “VPAID is the final piece of the current Digital Video Infrastructure Initiative. All five parts of the initiative help define the digital video ecosystem, reduce costs and increase efficiency for all parties and, most importantly, make it possible for advertisers to more easily reach larger online audiences.”