Four Big ISPs Team Up For Anti-Spam Lawsuits
POSTED: Wednesday, March 10, 2004
One thing the major Internet service providers can agree on is the need to reduce spam e-mail going to their users.
Microsoft, Yahoo!, AOL and Earthlink have filed six lawsuits against hundreds of people they say sent millions of unwanted e-mails in violation of a new U.S. law.It is the first major industry action under the Can-Spam legislation that went into effect Jan. 1.The lawsuits, filed in federal courts in California, Georgia, Virginia and Washington state, were announced at a Washington, D.C. news conference Wednesday. (Read the lawsuits)E-mail allegedly sent by the groups include typical e-mail come-ons for work-from-home schemes, refinancing deals, easy college diplomas, pornography and more.The companies say the defendants include some of the nation's most notorious large-scale spammers. The Internet providers say they shared information, resources and investigative information to identify some of the defendants.The Can-Spam act supplanted laws passed by various states. It provides both civil and criminal penalties for spammers who, in rare circumstances, could get up to five years in prison.It makes it a misdemeanor to send spam that does not contain an opt-out offer, does not have a valid return e-mail address and does not contain notice in the subject line that it is an advertisement. Messages must also contain a valid physical address.It also prohibits harvesting and guessing at e-mail addresses.However, individuals are not allowed to sue under the act; only the government and ISPs.
Read The Lawsuits 
How Spam Works
SPAM Cut Down On Spam Keep personal and work e-mail separate Delete spam, don't open it Don't post your address on your Web site If you participate in a newsgroup or chat room, use a separate e-mail address Never buy anything advertised on spam Use filtering and blocking software YOUR OPINION |
Read The Lawsuits How Spam Works Previous Stories:
- March 6, 2004: You've Got Mail? What If You've Got To Pay?
- February 26, 2004: FTC Says 'Do-Not-Spam' Site May Be Opposite
- February 19, 2004: Earthlink Names Targets Of Antispam Lawsuit
- January 15, 2004: ISP Form Group To Fight Spam
- December 18, 2003: MS, N.Y. Team Up To File Anti-Spam Lawsuits
- December 16, 2003: 'Can Spam Act' Becomes Law
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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