IP: Alleged spammer wins order against Realtime Blackhole List

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

> Date: Mon, 17 Jul 2000 05:17:35 -0400
> To: politech () vorlon mit edu
> From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
>
> [This is, unfortunately, a huge issue. The Realtime Blackhole List 
> (http://mail-abuse.org/) is one of the best ways to stop spam. I use it 
> with procmail and mutt on my Linux server to file suspected spam into a, 
> well, "suspected spam" folder. The system is entirely voluntary and free: 
> Concerned individuals and Internet service providers sign up for a free 
> subscription to a frequently-updated list of offending sites. Think of it 
> like signing up for a list of restaurant reviews, so you know to avoid 
> certain places. At least the defendant seems exceptionally well-prepared 
> for the suit: They've been getting ready for this for a while. If they 
> lose, I hope they go offshore. --Declan]
>
> http://mail-abuse.org/
> We at MAPS are aware of the mounting curiousity which has been generated 
> by the article in DIRECT magazine. At this time we can only confirm that 
> Yesmail.Com has indeed filed a lawsuit against MAPS, and a Temporary
> Restraining Order (``TRO'') has been issued. MAPS will comment in more 
> detail at a later date. In the meantime we thank you for your concern and 
> support.
>
>
> http://www.directmag.com/content/newsline/main.html#81
>
> Yesmail Gets Restraining Order Against MAPS Blacklist
> By Patricia Odell, Richard H. Levey
>
> Yesmail.com, a Chicago-based permission marketer, won a temporary 
> restraining order Thursday against Mail Abuse Prevention System LLC (MAPS) 
> in the first legal challenge to the Redwood, CA-based group.
>
> Issued by the Northern District Court of Illinois (Eastern Division), the 
> order blocks MAPS from adding yesmail to its list of alleged spammers. It 
> is good through Aug. 2. A hearing has been scheduled for July 18.
>
> Several firms have found their Web sites shut down and their e-mails 
> blocked after being listed on MAPS' Realtime Blackhole List (RBL). The 
> RBL, which lists more than 3,000 alleged spammers, is subscribed to by 
> 20,000 Internet ervice providers, corporations, government agencies and 
> individuals.
>
> In a complaint filed on Thursday, yesmail alleged that MAPS had announced 
> its intent to include yesmail on the RBL.
>
> The complaint states that subscribers constantly "check in" with the RBL 
> while carrying electronic communication, and that if an Internet Protocol 
> (IP) address is listed on the RBL Internet Service providers will not 
> carry the communications.
>
> By threatening to do so and by publicizing the threat, MAPS would disrupt 
> yesmail's contractual relationships with its advertising business, the 
> complaint states.
>
> ...
>
>
>
> > Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2000 19:41:13 -0600
> > To: declan () wired com
> > From: Charles Oriez <coriez () oriez org>
> > Subject: spam issue
> >
> > Declan -
> >
> > The article below is making the rounds of some of the anti-spam sites 
> > this evening, but I have been unable to get confirmation of its accuracy 
> > from the parties involved.  It would be a good Wired story if confirmed, 
> > but there are too many things about it that smell at the moment.
> >
> >  http://www.directmag.com/content/newsline/main.html#81
> >
> >
> > --
> > Think about it.  Would you work for a company that couldn't tell
> > the difference in quality of its employees' normal work product and the 
> > work product of someone on drugs without performing a test? -- socks
>
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