Spam

[Jeffrey A Law <law at cygnus dot com>]

I don't know if any of you are in Washington, but if you are, it might
pay to watch your mailboxes for Spam!



------- Forwarded Message



cf. http://www.wa.gov/ago/junkemail/ for info about the law itself

Man Collects Under 'Anti-Spam' Law 


SEATTLE (AP) - A Seattle man has collected $200 from a company that sent him
unsolicited commercial e-mail, apparently the first to collect under
Washington state's ``anti-spam'' law.

``I'm sure people will be very happy to see somebody claim a victory for the
Net,'' said Bruce Miller, a contributor to computer publications.

The law, which took effect June 11, bans unsolicited commercial e-mail that
misrepresents its source so consumers cannot respond by simply hitting the
reply button, Assistant Attorney General Paula Selis said Wednesday.

It also targets ``spam'' containing misleading header information that
suggests the material comes from someone else, she said.

The law allows recipients to collect $500 and Internet service providers to
collect up to $1,000 or actual damages for each item of unwanted spam. It
applies only to e-mail received in or sent from Washington state, Selis said.

Miller had complained about Stan Smith, a Salem, Ore., distributor of Tahitian
Noni Juice who used spam to pitch the product. He called the 800-number
provided and received a packet in the mail that included an address for
ordering.

Miller printed out the original spam and wrote to Smith. He basically
threatened legal action and said, ``p.s., I'm willing to settle for $200,''
Selis said.

Nevada has a law under which consumers who receive spam can ask not to be sent
any more and senders must comply or face penalties.

While anti-spam legislation is under consideration in Congress, ``to my
knowledge, Washington is the only state other than Nevada that has anything on
its books right now,'' Selis said.

------- End of Forwarded Message