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FTC Defines Spam

Posted by michael on from the rated-k-for-know-it-when-i-see-it dept.

Iphtashu Fitz writes "The FTC has just issued its final report on how it will define Spam with regards to the federal CAN-SPAM act. According to the FTC, bulk e-mail is commercial if it includes advertising and promotion or if the subject line or beginning of the message would be reasonably considered to be advertising or promotion. This is very similar to the proposed rules that were announced back in August. The modified rules also deal with the issues of transactional messages (an e-mail regarding an order that also includes advertising) and relationship-based e-mail (messages about product updates, etc)."

3 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Definition not broad enough? by KillerDeathRobot · · Score: 4, Interesting

    It seems like the definition could be more inclusive. I get plenty of emails that have totally meaningless text and then sometimes (but not always!) a link at the bottom to something I could buy. I'm guessing that some of these are an attempt to see if there's anyone at my inbox reading mail, but in any case I'd definitely call these spam.

    --
    Thinkin' Lincoln - a web comic of presidential proportions
  2. Spam definition? by Dorsai65 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    1) I didn't ask for it.
    2) It isn't in my (native) language.
    3) I have no pre-existing relationship with the company being mentioned.
    4) The subject line must parse as normal language - |\|0 l33t-5p34| 5) May not include any attachments.
    6) May not consist of only a graphic or link to a website.

    For additional protection, hold the companies being advertised liable for the actions of the company doing the "promotion".

    --
    --- Asking inconvenient questions for over 30 years...
  3. Unfortunate Necessary Evil by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The kind of folks that read /. want complete freedom on the internet. They also want no more spam.

    The sad truth is that you can't have both. You either have an international body that regulates the internet (which personaly I don't want, and I assume most /.ers agree), or you have spam.

    Spammers and anoyed people will continue to fight for a long long time.