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AOL Sues Spammers

Posted by timothy on from the pink-mist dept.

mabu writes "Prompted by what they're reporting as over eight million complaints and the result of over a billion inbound junk e-mails, according to this press release, America Online is now stepping up its battle against spam by initiating five lawsuits against over a dozen companies and individuals. Let's hope this is the beginning of a more aggressive effort on the part of ISPs to prove to their users that they are seriously interested in addressing this issue, and at its source. I've maintained that this has never been a freedom of speech issue. It's more an issue of mail relay hijacking, forging header information, and exploiting third-party networks and resources. Perhaps if more ISPs took action, we might see the backbone providers doing so as well?"

13 of 322 comments (clear)

  1. May as well be the first to say it by sssmashy · · Score: 5, Funny

    "You've got a summons!"

    1. Re:May as well be the first to say it by ahaning · · Score: 4, Funny

      Thanks. I was actually wanting someone to reply with the next line in the Rocky & Bullwinkle skit...

      "It's a summons."
      "What's a summons?"
      "It means sommon's in trouble!"

      But, yeah, a factual reply works, too ;-).

      --
      Withdrawal before climax is very ineffective and those who try this are usually called "parents."
    2. Re:May as well be the first to say it by Rombuu · · Score: 5, Funny

      I think you have to go with the wittier: "You've Got Jail!"

      --

      DrLunch.com The site that tells you what's for lunch!
  2. Arg!!! by Keebler71 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Argh!!!! Who do we hate more?! Spammers or AOL? Thank goodness MS isn't involved in this story or I'd be really perplexed.

    --
    "It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance." - Thomas Sowell
    1. Re:Arg!!! by Trogre · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think the official order is something like this (sorted from least evil to most evil):

      1. Intel
      2. AOL
      3. RIAA/MPAA
      4. Spammers
      5. Microsoft

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    2. Re:Arg!!! by Zalgon+26+McGee · · Score: 3, Funny

      You left option 6:

      Cowboy Neal

      --

      ---

      Book(n): Utensil used to pass time while waiting for the TV repairman

  3. dupalicious by Joe+the+Lesser · · Score: 4, Funny

    AOL already has 5 more suits, wow, they're really piling them on, since just earlier today it was reported that they had five initial suits!

    --
    "I only speak the truth"
    Karma: null(Mostly affected by an unassigned variable)
  4. AOL?! by hobbesmaster · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can I sue AOL for spamming me with CDs and floppy disks for the last decade?

  5. Update by T by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    I can predict the future:

    Update: (some future date) by T: Yes, it's a dupe.

  6. Not a dupe by djupedal · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...it is a 'parallel post'.

  7. If AOL can sue spammers... by mhesseltine · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can we sue Taco & crew for posting duplicate stories? I wasted 5 minutes of time on this article. My time is billed at $100/hr. Taco owes me $8.33

    --
    Overrated / Underrated : Moderation :: Anonymous Coward : Posting
  8. Evil Quotient factors by mr.+methane · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps I can help clarify the method of assigning an EQ (Evil Quotient) to an organization. As on Slashdot, a higher number is generally good.

    CEO has visible body piercings: +1
    Company is profitable: +1 .. for more than two business quarters: -2
    They make something you like: +2 .. but you have to actually pay for it: -3
    CEO denounces another CEO with a 0 EQ: +1
    Company allows wearing of sandals in office: +1
    Company requires workers to actually work: -4
    Company has more than 100 employees: -1
    Board meetings are held in exotic locations: +2 .. specifically, non-extradition countries: -3
    Company changes name after "that incident": -2
    Company makes the most popular products: -4
    Company makes neat stuff you'd never buy: +3

    I'm only hitting the major check-offs here.

  9. I'm confused.... This is Tuesday, isn't it? by CSG_SurferDude · · Score: 3, Funny

    I thought on Tuesdays we were supposed to hate AOL, and love the little ISPs.

    Did somebody change the /. calendar again on me?

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