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Japan Passes Anti-spam Law

Posted by timothy on from the sounds-reasonable dept.

Dr. Tom writes: "Japan Today reports on the new anti-spam law in Japan (which went into effect Thursday). The law's main feature is that it prohibits sending email with nonexistent or spoofed addresses -- a practice common among spammers. It also requires senders to clearly identify UCE as such (so users can install automated blocking tools if they so desire) and provide opt-out functionality. The UCE problem is especially severe in Japan where local phone calls are not free and users must currently pay for downloads of email. Opt-out features are a bad idea, though, because when you opt-out, it just proves your email is valid and the spammers can sell that. But requiring UCE to contain a "Bulk" keyword allows users to have their ISPs block the downloads automatically. The Diet is also considering legislation that would make all UCE illegal."

12 comments

  1. So how do I sue? by QuodEratDemonstratum · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As an Englishman living in America, how do I sue a Japanese spammer? Seriously?

    1. Re:So how do I sue? by Dr.+Tom · · Score: 2

      Ask your lawyer. If the spam originated in Japan you could sue under current law, and if not, well, at least it sets a valuable legal precedent. You could site that in your case.

    2. Re:So how do I sue? by Dr.+Tom · · Score: 2

      Damn, I meant "cite," obviously.

  2. Intersting by Cow4263 · · Score: 1

    Good idea, but like any novel idea, its implentation will show how effective it is. They need have large fines for mass spam.

    fp anyway...

    1. Re:Intersting by moderators_are_w*nke · · Score: 1

      I think prison sentences is a better way to put people off. Lock up the company directors, they'll love that.

      IIRC, the japanese courts system is a bit different to western ones as well. A far higher proportion of cases that go to court result in convictions, for example.

      --
      "XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve your problem, use more." - Anonymous Coward
  3. Umm by josh+crawley · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Wouldnt this article be better posted under "Thier Rights Online" , rather than "Your Rights Online" ?

    1. Re:Umm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      "Their" And no, because international legal precedents matter.

  4. Not everyone.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    is an American, buddy.

    And it's just that type of thinking that gets the rest of the world bogged down, worrying about the DMCA and the CDBTPA that you Yanks are coming up with.

    This is a great idea for Japan IMHO, especially since a lot of Western servers have problems with Japanese spam.

    Hoping this works out,

    A Canadian

    1. Re:Not everyone.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think he's referring to the spammers as the 3rd party ('their' rights) and not the Japanese.

  5. Should I get a .jp email address now? by Frobnicator · · Score: 1

    If the consumer can collect the penalty, might be worth it to get an account at an ISP in Japan and make sure that the email address gets harvested.

    --
    //TODO: Think of witty sig statement
  6. What about usenet? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Does this mean someone posting to usenet can't post with a fake email address? I don't like this idea, it's bad for anonimity.

  7. Green Eggs & Spam by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I prefer Spam in a can!