SPAM, AND NOTHING BUT SPAM.
by Gillian Tarawhiti, Community Training Centre, http://www.millionairerippleeffect.com
For the new and possibly the old netpreneurs SPAM is the common term for electronic junk mail - unwanted messages sent to a persons e mail account or mobile phone.
The SPAM act (CAN-SPAM ACT, EUROPEAN SPAM ACT, AUSTRALIAN SPAM ACT) identifies SPAM as unsolicited commercial electronic communication (s). The act covers electronic mail , instant messaging, SMS (mobile phone writing messaging) and MMS (mobile phone graphic messaging).
Under the SPAM act all commercial electronic messages must meet the following conditions. Any message that doesnt meet all three of these conditions is distinctive as SPAM.
1.You must have CONSENT
2.You must IDENTIFY yourself
3.You must provide a certain way to unsubscribe
If we use this forum as an example of all three, you will find that in order to acquire access to this forum in terms of putting up. You had to complete a registration that in part advised that you agreed to certain terms and conditions. In doing so you EXPRESSED CONSENT.
By registering to this forum you have also IDENTIFIED yourself beit as a non-de-plum
In terms of unsubscribing, every e mail that you receive from this forum has a unsubscribe in it, also you have an ignore facility which in part as the same effect.
COMMERICIAL ELECTRONIC MESSAGE
To decide whether an electronic communication is commercial, the Act looks at all of the following:
the content of the message
the way in which the message is presented; and
any links, phone numbers or contact data in the communication
RAMIFICATIONS OF SPAM TO YOU!
If you have been accused of SPAM activities you will be asked to prove that you have not committed the offence. If you are unsuccessful in that approach you IP (Internet Provider) will withdraw all services to you i.e. close your internet site .
If you are using an autoresponder to hold your subscriber list and are sending messages via that accomadation , your autoresponder will automatically suspend your account unless you may prove your innocence.
Penalties for breach of the Act range up to $1.1 million per day; the legislation also allows for the creating of orders for spammers to relinquish profits and pay compensation to spam victims.
So in short, there are 3 things that may keep you in the clear of such violations.
1.Get Consent - Expressed or Inferred
2.Identify yourself
3.Provide a certain way for people to unsubscribe from receiving further emails
Before I finish this article, I would like to add that this is just a brief overview of the act and that it would be in your best interest to actually read and implement the practices.