Re: legitimate unsolicited commercial e-mail vs spam

From: Adrian Cooper <adrian_at_cooper.net>
Date: Fri 5 Nov 1999 22:13:00 -0000

DAVID ROSS WROTE:
> Thanks for your comments on my posting. I recognize the
> problems involved in the mass shotgunned e-mails and share
> your distaste for them. But must every unsolicited
> commercial email always be spam?

In a word - YES!

I am an active member of the major anti-spamming forums, and
as such, alot of my time is spent defeating spam in every
possible way, particularly technically.

If the email is unsolicited - it is spam.
If the email requires the recipient to "opt-out"
                                   - it is spam.

Of course there are numerous other definitions of, and
circumstances related to spam, but in all situations the
actual content and intent is totally and completely
irrelevant.

Be absolutely clear on this also - if *anyone* does engage
in spamming for any reason whatsoever, they will definitely
not get away with it. Individuals will lose their Internet
accounts, entire networks from which spam originated will be
isolated, and many other consequences will result including
direct legal action.

There is a legitimate way to engage in commercial mailing
activities - the ONLY way - and that is to "OPT-IN" lists of
recipients, where the recipient has *pro-actively requested*
and otherwise given direct *permission* to receive email
from a specific originator for specific purposes *before*
commercial email is sent to that recipient. Even then, a
means of easily unsubscribing to further such mailings must
be provided, and the email address of that recipient must
not be provided to any other entity for any other purpose
without the prior permission of that recipient.

If you are seeking a justification for sending UCE or spam
here - don't - there isn't one.

If you value your business, do not be tempted to spam!

Adrian Cooper.






Received on Fri Nov 05 1999 - 16:13:00 CST