Virginia Supreme Court Strikes Down Anti-Spam Law

Skater writes "The Washington Post is reporting that the Virginia Supreme Court has struck down the anti-spam law that was used to convict spammer Jeremy James, on the grounds that the ability to be anonymous was more important than the problem of spam. Strangely, the same court only a few months ago upheld the law. 'The court noted that "were the 'Federalist Papers' just being published today via e-mail, that transmission by Publius would violate the [current Virginia] statute." The court suggested that the law does not limit its restrictions on spam to commercial or fraudulent e-mail, or to unprotected speech such as pornography or defamation. And when the state suggested that the court merely tailor a restriction to the law within its opinion, the court declined.'"

Comments

Follow the money.

[Spazntwich]

Spam and junkmail generate too much tax revenue for the governments to ever actually do away with it.

I would not be surprised if we see companies trying to take on the do-not-call list next.

The spammers and phone harassers don't give two fucks about the massive externalities their business models create. It's time to force them to be considered, at which point it may well become clear that the business models themselves aren't viable.

That or drag the motherfuckers into the streets and shoot them.

Anti-Spam Software Writers are from Virginia?

[ilovesymbian]

The only plausible explanation for this ridiculous judgment is maybe that many anti-spam software writers work out of Virginia. The State doesn't want to lose revenue by letting these poor souls go out of business.