Re: Email list purchases

From: Tom Geller <tom_at_spamcon.org>
Date: Thu 18 Apr 2002 14:23:42 -0600

"Mark Brownlow" <mark_at_keepingthekey.com> writes:

>Say, for example, I own a motorbike website which includes
>a confirmed opt-in mailing list alerting people to new
>deals on bikes and parts from around the Web.
>
>I then get an offer for the website from a publisher of
>print motorbike magazines, who wishes to run both the site
>and the mailing list as before (but who doesn't rule out
>changes in scope or focus).
>
>Where does this situation stand in terms of permission and
>privacy?

An interesting question, and one many people have faced as dotcoms
merge or are swallowed.

I think the question is: What did subscribers "opt in" to receive? If
it's email about Harleys from "motorcyclelover.com", then it doesn't
matter who runs that domain: As long as the content continues to be
what the subscriber asked for, everyone's happy.

If, however, the subscriber specifically wanted to get email from
you, personally, then that's an "opt in" that can't be transferred.
Fortunately, that doesn't happen much in the business world. :)

The gray area usually comes when the new company (as you say)
"changes... scope or focus". Someone who asked GoLive to send them
tips on running CyberStudio is likely to get angry when that program
is acquired by Adobe, and they start getting ads to buy Photoshop.
(That's exactly what happened -- I was on that mailing list.)

--

         Tom Geller * tom_at_spamcon.org * +1-415-552-2557
Media Liaison/Secretary, SpamCon Foundation <http://www.spamcon.org>
   Protecting email as a medium of communications and commerce
             A California non-profit organization
     Become a member: <http://www.spamcon.org/membership>




Received on Thu Apr 18 2002 - 15:23:42 CDT