Re: Spam, Law and Reality

[Charles E. Yow, Esq.]

That is fantastic.

----- Original Message -----
From: John S. Quarterman <jsq@mids.org>
To: Charles E. Yow, Esq. <CYow@GulfSouthY2k.com>
Cc: <nanog@merit.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 09, 2000 4:40 PM
Subject: Re: Spam, Law and Reality


>
>The spam issue is serous no doubt, but unless everyone understands the
>implications of attempting to apply U.S. law to please understand some
basic
>concepts and reality.  First the alleged violation has to be according to
>the letter of the law that is being applied, exactly by the letter of the
>law.  Lets be very realistic, do we really want to seek to apply U.S. law
to
>those outside the U.S?  If this is the case then the end result could be
the
>reverse, perhaps China would seek to apply Chinese law to American ISP's,
>network administrators, the end result being Americans who have never been
>to China being sentenced to life in prison or to death for posting matters
>the Chinese Government considers offensive.  The witch hunt I see to
address
>spamming is illogical and futile.  Let me be very blunt, until someone is
>willing to take action all this talk about dealing with spammers is nothing
>more than saber rattling and is useless.  I am an attorney in
Massachusetts,
>and my experience is people get upset about spam and without exception no
>one is willing to follow through, I used to be willing to deal with
spammers
>pro bono, but having been burned more than enough times by people "getting
>over it" that has passed.  Talk is cheap.

We sued and won,
 http://www.mids.org/nospam/

but the spammer in question was inside the U.S.,
and I certainly understand your point of view.

John S. Quarterman <jsq@mids.org>