British companies that send out unsolicited marketing
e-mails face big legal bills following a case brought by a Scottish
web user.
Gordon Dick took satellite firm Transcom to Edinburgh's Sheriff
Court for sending him unwanted advertising e-mail. Dick claimed the
e-mail was a breach of anti-spam laws.
Dick was awarded £750 in damages plus legal costs of £616.66,
after Transcom did not appear in court.
Dick, of Edinburgh, told the BBC, “The courts have now sent a
clear message, spam will not be tolerated and individuals' rights
to not have their mailbox filled with unsolicited advertising will
be upheld.
"It has been clear to me in front of each Sheriff that they have
little time for spammers and their anti-social actions."
Transcom said Dick had “inadvertently” appeared on an annual
customer e-mail marketing list. EU anti-spam laws were incorporated
into UK legislation in 2003. A website to help recipients sue the
senders of spam has been set up.
The Scotchspam website can be viewed here:
http://www.scotchspam.com/
Spam levels reach new highs
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