Originally published February 16 2006
Scottish businessman wins case against U.S. spammer
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Nigel Roberts has won a landmark case against Media Logistics, based in Falkirk, and experts believe the case will prove a precedent for other spam suits filed against U.S.-based spammers.
A BUSINESSMAN has won what is believed to be the first victory of its kind by claiming damages from a company which sent him e-mail spam.
Falkirk-based Media Logistics (UK) Ltd has agreed to pay �270 compensation to Mr Roberts - who runs an internet business - and it is predicted that the outcome could lead to more action against US-based spammers, the main source of junk mail, as English judgments can now be enforced in America.
A court in Colchester granted judgment against the firm, which offers "electronic direct marketing", sending out targeted, but unsolicited, e-mail adverts and promotions, known as spamming.
Mr Roberts, 37, who is based in Alderney in the Channel Islands, said: "This case does provide a guideline when it comes to successfully claiming damages from spammers.
The EU passed an anti-spam law three years ago called the Directive on Privacy and Telecommunications, which gave individuals the right to fight the tide of spam which has threatened to swamp the electronic information highway.
Seona Burnett, the director of intellectual property and technology at Edinburgh law firm McGrigors, said the case would make spammers think twice.
"It was always anticipated that getting substantial damages was going to be difficult because you have to prove loss to get damages and it's quite difficult to prove that.
Mr Roberts said he had been hit by junk mail ads for a car-hire firm and fax broadcasting business.
But when his request for an apology and damages under privacy regulations failed, he issued a claim against the firm in England, where it is incorporated, under anti-spam laws.
� IN 2004, according to IBM's Security Threats and Attacks Trend Report, about 70 per cent of the world's internet traffic was accounted for by an average daily deluge of 24.8 billion unsolicited e-mails.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml