Re: Spam, Law and Reality

["Charles E. Yow, Esq." <CYow () GulfSouthY2k com>]

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>