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California Sues Spammer for $2 Million

Posted by timothy on from the hit-hit-hit dept.

KilroyTheVeg writes "The Mercury News reports that the California Attorney General, Bill Lockyer, filed suit against Internet marketer PW Marketing LLC, accusing the company of illegally spamming millions of Californians. The Story is here and the Sidney Morning Herald also has the story here. The suit named PW Marketing LLC (note:subpoena in link is third one down the page) and its owners Paul Willis and Claudia Griffins defendants in the suit which seeks "at least" $US2 million from them for allegedly flouting several state consumer protection laws banning spam mail. All I can say is Make 'em pay, it's the only way to hurt 'em where it counts." Update: 09/30 22:02 GMT by T : Note, that's Sydney Morning Herald.

3 of 217 comments (clear)

  1. Re:How sad. by schon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    All the poor guy did was spam

    Just because he only steals a couple of cents from a million people, doesn't mean it's not theft.

    What if we arrested multiple mailers to real mailboxes?

    Well, if they forged stamps in an attempt to send millions envelopes, I'm sure you would.

  2. Re:one of a million by Bilbo · · Score: 5, Insightful
    > However, its one spammer, in one state, in one country

    It's called legal precedent. In other words, once you've gone through the pain and hassle of pushing one of these through court, then it makes it a whole lot easier to get the next one.

    As to the "just one," I admit I haven't read the article on this one, but remember that these are usually SPAM services that put these things out. In other words, this isn't just one message we're talking about, but potentially thousands of "clients", each one with hundreds of thousands of individual emails to users in California. Sure, knock one out and a hundred more jump in to fill the gap, but if you can prove that it will cost you money to spam CA residents, then people will start thinking twice about all those get rich quick messages. A lot of other states are watching this case, and if CA can make it stick, there will be other states to follow.

    --
    Your Servant, B. Baggins
  3. Re:Spammers have every right to exist by schon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Government has no right interfering in the business activities of spammers.

    How about

    "Government has no right interfering in the business activities of mafia."

    Theft is illegal. Spam is theft.

    Government has every right to "interefere" with such "business" activities.