Legend has it that it is actually an acronym: SPAM = SPiced hAM. Of course, the official line from Hormel is that it's just a made-up word.
In fact, Hormel has this to say about spelling "SPAM" in all caps:
We do not object to use of this slang term to describe UCE [unsolicited commercial email], although we do object to the use of our product image in association with that term. Also, if the term is to be used, it should be used in all lower-case letters to distinguish it from our trademark SPAM, which should be used with all uppercase letters.
Slashdot Mirror
Legend has it that it is actually an acronym: SPAM = SPiced hAM. Of course, the official line from Hormel is that it's just a made-up word.
In fact, Hormel has this to say about spelling "SPAM" in all caps:
You can read their full statement at http://www.spam.com/ci/ci_in.htm.
jehuni