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Major ISPs and Spammers Engage in High-Profile Court Battles Under New CAN-SPAM Law

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Microsoft and other major Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have taken significant steps to combat spam, filing six federal suits against 200 of the largest spammers, including some who remain unnamed. The lawsuits, the first of their kind under the new federal CAN-SPAM anti-spam law, aim to tackle widespread spamming tactics such as using false e-mail addresses or misleading subject lines, and hijacking computers to create "zombies." The spammers allegedly sent hundreds of millions of unwanted e-mails, targeting people with deceptive solicitations for prescription drugs, get-rich-quick schemes, and other scams.

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft sued JDO Media, a Florida-based company accused of operating an automated multi-level marketing program advertised through spam, which reportedly sent millions of e-mails to Hotmail subscribers.
  • Microsoft's second suit targets 50 "John Does" operating as the "Super Viagra Group," allegedly sending millions of spam messages to Hotmail subscribers promoting either Viagra or a weight loss patch.
  • AOL filed two suits, one against Davis Wolfgang Hawke (aka Dave Bridger) and Braden Bournival, accused of sending millions of spam messages to AOL subscribers selling penis enhancers, and another against 40 "John Does."
  • EarthLink sued 75 unnamed defendants, grouped into categories such as prescription drugs, mortgage leads, and get-rich-quick schemes.
  • Yahoo's suit targets Eric Head, Matthew Head, and Barry Head, and their companies, allegedly responsible for sending 94 million spam messages in January alone.
  • The CAN-SPAM law, which took effect in January, is widely regarded as toothless and may have a limited impact on reducing spam volume.

Statistics:

  • Microsoft's Hotmail subscribers received millions of e-mails touting a multi-level marketing program.
  • AOL claims to have received over 100,000 complaints from its members about messages originating from Davis Wolfgang Hawke.
  • Yahoo Mail subscribers received some 94 million e-mail messages from The Head Operation in January alone.
  • The 200 spammers targeted in the six federal suits allegedly sent hundreds of millions of unwanted e-mails.

Sources:

  • Microsoft
  • AOL
  • EarthLink
  • Yahoo
  • CAN-SPAM anti-spam law (no specific date mentioned in the original text)

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