IP: Re: Anti-spam measures by AOL over the top?

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

> Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 16:58:28 -0700
> To: farber () cis upenn edu
> From: Dave Crocker <dcrocker () brandenburg com>
>
>
> At 07:24 PM 4/20/00 -0400, David Farber wrote:
> > > >  a message that "bulk mail is against AOL Terms of Service, this account is
> > > >  being deactivated" and not just the WINE EXPO screen name but Roberto's
>
>
> It turns out that opt-in volume mail is something that recipients 
> WANT to get, quite in contrast with unsolicited volume mail (ie, 
> spam).
>
> The problem is how a lowly ISP can distinguish between them?  It is 
> a Good Thing that they try to filter spam.  But very, very bad if 
> opt-in mail is not delivered.
>
> As companies are starting to generate more newsletters, order 
> confirmations, marketing brochures, etc. for their subscribed 
> customers and prospects, we must find a way to distinguish between 
> these two, very different kinds of traffic.
>
> Currently there is no way to do that, either in terms of content for 
> an individual message or in terms of traffic patterns.  They look 
> the same.
>
> We, the email industry, are going to have to solve this problem.  And quickly.
>
> d/
>
>
> =-=-=-=-=
> Dave Crocker  <dcrocker () brandenburg com>
> Brandenburg Consulting  <www.brandenburg.com>
> Tel: +1.408.246.8253,  Fax: +1.408.273.6464
> 675 Spruce Drive,  Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA