Rob McEwen wrote: > When is Bulk "Bulk"? > > The reason I ask is because I have a client who sends unsolicited e-mails to > prospective clients. But he does this manually by visiting relevant web > sites and then one-at-a-time, he personally e-mails these prospective > clients. I don't consider this spam because it is not bulk and my client can > actually tell you who he e-mailed that day and why.
Your opinion may differ, but since you are asking... I think you need to consider how your definition of 'spam' matches up with the rest of the world. You seem to define spam in terms of bulk. Most aren't so limited. I personally define spam as either UCE or UBE. Either one. UCE - unsolicited commercial email UBE - unsolicited bulk email Therefore, to me, and many others, it doesn't matter how few messages there are, or how individual the message is. If it's unsolicited email of a commercial nature, it's spam. Period. However, most spam laws don't outright prohibit UCE. They prohibit forgeries, and have various opt-out requirements. However, such laws vary from state-to-state, and you better check to make sure UCE is allowed in the state your user is sending mail to. Most decent ISP terms of service prohibit both UBE and UCE. You should too. i.e.: http://www.comcast.net/terms/use.jsp Contains: "transmit unsolicited bulk or commercial messages or "spam." This includes, but is not limited to, unsolicited advertising, promotional materials or other solicitation material, bulk mailing of commercial advertising, chain mail, informational announcements, charity requests, and petitions for signatures;" Please note that it's an OR here, not an AND. All unsolicited commercial messages are spam in comcast's eyes. And: http://site.aol.com/copyright/rules.html Prohibits spamming as: "constitutes unauthorized or unsolicited advertising, junk or bulk e-mail (also known as "Spamming"), chain letters, any other form of unauthorized solicitation, or any form of lottery or gambling;" Again, unsolicited advertising is defined as spam.
