What does he mean by bribed? The FTC could have a huge problem with this if they paid or gave gifts and it wasn't disclosed, judging by their stance in recent undisclosed payments to YouTube vloggers and product placement on mommy blogs by diaper companies etc. You could be personally held liable as well if you took perks, though by changing the banner to a corporate one with trademarks you might have sidestepped the liability. Maybe that was why they offered up the banner first.