How much would it cost for you to say that Internet Explorer is the best browser? Because Microsoft wants to know.

According to several reports, journalists have been offered compensation by a third-party vendor working for Microsoft, if they write nice things about IE. That includes TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington, who received an invitation to “collaborate on a sponsored post opportunity for Internet Explorer.”

“Compensation for this post is available, and there will also be ample opportunities for fun prizes and rewards throughout the duration of the program,” the invite said.

He promptly blogged(Opens in a new window) about that instead, leading to a bit of a social media mess for Microsoft and marketing agency SocialChorus.

“This action by a vendor is not representative of the way Microsoft works with bloggers or other members of the media. The program has been suspended,” Microsoft later said in a statement to Arrington.

The context of the sponsored opportunity seems to be that said bloggers would be asked to write a single blog post praising Internet Explorer by July 10. Or, to quote the agency’s offer, they’d be asked to “spread the word about the new Internet Explorer web experience in a cool, visual way.” Radical, man.

Said paid-off bloggers would also be asked to spread the word about Internet Explorer over social media — seemingly using the hashtag #IEbloggers, according to the agency’s landing page about the program (which has since been taken down). Presumably, people praising Internet Explorer on Twitter(Opens in a new window) using said hashtag are possibly taking part in the agency’s paid promotion.

As for how much IE blogging paid, bloggers were apparently able to name their price, according to TechCrunch(Opens in a new window).

For more, check out PCMag’s reviews of Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 10, as well as our rundown of the best browsers.