Microsoft and ISPs launch spam legal offensive

Microsoft has teamed up with internet service providers (ISPs) AOL, Yahoo! and EarthLink for an orchestrated anti-spam offensive that kicks off with the software giant bringing a trio of lawsuits under the US Can-Spam federal law.

The three ISPs have also filed separate lawsuits against accused spammers in courts in Virginia, Georgia and California. AOL has filed two lawsuits, while EarthLink and Yahoo! each filed a single lawsuit.

"Collectively, these four ISPs continue to change the economics of spam by identifying and targeting top alleged spammers," said Aaron Kornblum, Microsoft's internet safety enforcement attorney.

"Microsoft alone has supported more than 100 legal actions worldwide, including 75 lawsuits in the US, against those who strain our consumers' inboxes with unwanted and deceptive email, many carrying and transmitting malicious code, spyware and links to phishing sites."

The three Microsoft lawsuits allege that defendants spoofed the domains of all four ISPs and used open proxies to route the emails.

The defendants allegedly sent millions of email messages advertising herbal growth supplements, mortgage services and get-rich-quick schemes, all in violation of the Can-Spam law.

AOL's two lawsuits both name numerous 'John Does' as defendants and allege violations of federal and state laws. One lawsuit is the very first to expressly target 'Spim' instant messaging abuse.

EarthLink's suit, against numerous 'John Doe' defendants, alleges that illegal and deceptive emails were used to advertise prescription drugs available without a legitimate prescription and low mortgage or loan rates.

Yahoo! filed a lawsuit against East Coast Exotics Entertainment Group and Epoth LLC for allegedly disguising their identity, designing messages to circumvent spam filters, and using sexually explicit subject lines to send unsolicited sexually oriented spam.

This is the second round of junk email related enforcement actions filed by the anti-spam alliance, which was founded in April 2003. Earlier this year the four companies filed the first major industry lawsuits against accused spammers under the Can-Spam law.

See also:

Gates talks up integrated communications

New versions of Office real-time collaboration offerings  09 Mar 2005

Spammers take aim at Christmas

Study reveals junk mail tactics becoming ever more sophisticated  10 Nov 2004

US spammer facing nine years in jail

North Carolina man amassed $24m through bulk email scams  04 Nov 2004

Latest phishing scam silent but violent

Just open an email and you could be the next victim, warns security firm  04 Nov 2004

Spam scam creates Yahoo zombies

Junk mail fraudsters dupe users into setting up bogus Yahoo accounts  01 Nov 2004

Spyware

An increasing number of web users are inadvertently downloading software which can trap ID and password information for online bank accounts.  22 Sep 2004

Microsoft, Yahoo and AOL push anti-spam plans

Anti-Spam Technical Alliance publishes recommendations on best practice  23 Jun 2004

Spim is the new spam

Spammers turn to instant messaging to peddle porn and get-rich-quick scams  31 Mar 2004

Top ISPs sue 220 alleged spammers

First major charges to be made under new Can-Spam Act  11 Mar 2004

Anti-spam law critics predict failure

EU directive will be crippled by countries failing to comply, warn anti-spam experts  11 Dec 2003

AOL declares war on spam

ISP takes legal action in the US to prosecute junk mail pests  17 Apr 2003

Like this story? Spread the news by clicking below:

 del.icio.us     Digg this     reddit!