Japan Passes Anti-spam Law

Dr. Tom writes: "Japan Today reports on the new anti-spam law in Japan (which went into effect Thursday). The law's main feature is that it prohibits sending email with nonexistent or spoofed addresses -- a practice common among spammers. It also requires senders to clearly identify UCE as such (so users can install automated blocking tools if they so desire) and provide opt-out functionality. The UCE problem is especially severe in Japan where local phone calls are not free and users must currently pay for downloads of email. Opt-out features are a bad idea, though, because when you opt-out, it just proves your email is valid and the spammers can sell that. But requiring UCE to contain a "Bulk" keyword allows users to have their ISPs block the downloads automatically. The Diet is also considering legislation that would make all UCE illegal."

So how do I sue?

[QuodEratDemonstratum]

As an Englishman living in America, how do I sue a Japanese spammer? Seriously?

Re:So how do I sue?

[Dr. Tom]

Ask your lawyer. If the spam originated in Japan you could sue under current law, and if not, well, at least it sets a valuable legal precedent. You could site that in your case.

Re:So how do I sue?

[Dr. Tom]

Damn, I meant "cite," obviously.

Intersting

[Cow4263]

Good idea, but like any novel idea, its implentation will show how effective it is. They need have large fines for mass spam.

fp anyway...

Re:Intersting

[moderators_are_w*nke]

I think prison sentences is a better way to put people off. Lock up the company directors, they'll love that.

IIRC, the japanese courts system is a bit different to western ones as well. A far higher proportion of cases that go to court result in convictions, for example.

Re:Umm

[Anonymous Coward]

"Their" And no, because international legal precedents matter.

Should I get a .jp email address now?

[Frobnicator]

If the consumer can collect the penalty, might be worth it to get an account at an ISP in Japan and make sure that the email address gets harvested.