Volume IV

Issue : 1: January 12, 2006

• CIRA Transfers Domain Name to Complainant
• Court Finds Law Firms Use of Someone elses Password not to be Hacking
• Standard Life Wins Domain Name Dispute Against Registrant of standard-life.ca
• Canadian "Rootkit" Class Action Lawsuits Launched Against Sony
• New Mexico Supreme Court Decision Allows State to Levy Income Tax on Out of State Corporations
• UK Businessman Wins Landmark Spam Suit
• Priceline.com Successful in Dispute over Priceline.ca
• SEC Fines McAfee $50 Million
• To Fight Counterfeits Pfizer Inserts RFID Tags in Viagra Packages

Home > Volume IV > Issue 1: January 12, 2006 > UK Businessman Wins Landmark Spam Suit

UK Businessman Wins Landmark Spam Suit

In 2002, the European Union passed the Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications (known as the “E-Privacy Directive”). The Directive gives individuals in EU member states the right to claim damages in their local courts for receiving unwanted spam.

When Nigel Roberts of Alderney in the Channel Islands received unsolicited emails from Media Logistics UK, he decided to test the new regulations and sued Media Logistics in small claims court. Media Logistics did not respond to the claim, and Mr. Roberts received a favourable judgment. However, Media Logistics proceeded to settle with Mr. Roberts for £270 plus his £30 filing fee.

This is believed to be the first test of the anti-spam portion of Europe’s E-Privacy Directive. Mr. Roberts acknowledges that it was not a stunning legal victory, but that his small triumph might send a message to spammers that their activities may not be tolerated.

For a copy of the Directive, visit:

Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications