Dutch Court Okays Bulk Mail by Ab.Fab (Linux Journal) [LWN.net]

Linux Journal covers a Dutch court decision about spam. "A recent Dutch court decision lets spam continue as they begin to categorize privacy violations.In appeal, Dutch internet provider XS4ALL lost a case requesting an injunction against direct marketing company Ab.Fab to stop bothering the ISP's customers. The main discussion centered on opt-in (ISP) or opt-out (spammer or e-marketer) mail and the related issue of privacy. From the court's perspective, opt-out is good enough for ISP customers, and the disturbance from spammers is relatively low. Additionally, the court states that if the spam becomes too high in volume, you simply can obtain a new e-mail address."

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Dutch Court Okays Bulk Mail by Ab.Fab (Linux Journal)

Posted Jul 23, 2002 19:00 UTC (Tue) by steven97 (guest, #2702) [Link]

*Booo*hissss*

> From the court's perspective, opt-out is good enough for ISP
> customers, and the disturbance from spammers is relatively low.

Too bad that most spam corps just ignore your opt-out, or to even
more abuse the mail address you used to mail your complaint...

> Additionally, the court states that if the spam becomes too
> high in volume, you simply can obtain a new e-mail address."

This is complete bulls**t. It's the same as stating that you can
move to another house if you receive too many commercial flyers/booklets/etc.
in your emailbox.

Mr Judge, you don't even have the slightest idea what you're talking about.

Dutch Court Okays Bulk Mail by Ab.Fab (Linux Journal)

Posted Jul 24, 2002 8:14 UTC (Wed) by copsewood (subscriber, #199) [Link]

Perhaps someone could publish the IP addresses used by such courts,
political organisations and public officials who are neutral towards
spam and the blackhole list admins can decide whether or not to include
these ? This approach might change minds very quickly and would
disabuse such people as to where the real power lies.

Not to blackholers, to spammers!

Posted Jul 25, 2002 11:49 UTC (Thu) by leonbrooks (guest, #1494) [Link]

Rip all the addresses from the courts and forward them to spammers. If the court changes them (check back every week or two) keep sending the new ones. Search for the judges' names and see if you can find matching home addresses. Opt in on lists for them, particularly those lists that result in a blossoming shower of spam and additional signup requests. Sign up as postmaster@theirdomain and the like. Let's see how easy it is for them to get new email addresses. Let's see if they can learn by experience.

I've had it up to the eyebrows and beyond with supposedly representative courts that don't have the shadow of a clue. Rich, well-paid judges dictate what is fair and reasonable to impoverished defendents; judges old enough to have great grandchildren dictate terms to the remains of young couples; judges who couldn't find the reset button to save their own lives make technology decisions; judges who probably still own gramophones lay down the law for filesharing. Unjust, unfair, and in this case *possibly* subject to educative remedy.

Dutch Court Okays Bulk Mail by Ab.Fab (Linux Journal)

Posted Jul 24, 2002 9:33 UTC (Wed) by BogusUser ((unknown), #2129) [Link]

A nice page as a reaction on this ruling:
http://www.intuh.net/opt-out/
Take advantage of opt-out e-mail marketing - and let the spammers do all the work for you...
Important message to all address harvesting spiders/bots: the e-mail adresses below may be used for OPT-OUT e-mail marketing purposes only. All other use is explicitly prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation.