hmm... i remember seeing various affiliate programs (per click included) promoted on warez sites back in 93-94 already... selling cds, appz and gamez and stuff...
warez scene was what evolved from the BBS scene (that's DOS era pre-windows 3.1) and was out on the internet before adult... there was very little porn back in the early days most was about warez. adult was still on phone lines.
There were also the sites that allowed coders sell their software... partnership and per sale programs.
Actually, there were even affiliate programs on the internet back in the BBS age... where BBS owners offered a commission to people who referred people to buy their BBS user/pass.
And affiliate programs in general? They've been here since the beginning of time.
