US government legislation outlining what exactly is and is not legal in regards to UCE (Unsolicited Commercial Email, AKA SPAM). The restrictions are strict enough and the penalties stiff enough that many sponsors now completely prohibit the promotion of their sites through SPAM. You can read the full text of the legislation here or a summary here.
Controlling the Assault of Non solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003; law implemented to punish spammers; requirements include a valid “from†line, physical address, and opt-out link in every e-mail message, and processing of opt-out requests within 10 days of receipt.
The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 took effect January 1, 2004. It requires that businesses: Clearly label commercial e-mail as advertising Use a truthful and relevant subject line Use a legitimate return e-mail address Provide a valid physical address Provide a working opt-out option Process opt-out requests within ten business days
Federal anti-spam legislation passed in 2003 which superceded a patchwork of previous state laws. The law requires the following in each email: a legitimate header, a valid "From" address, a descriptive "Subject" line, a functional method for a recipient to unsubscribe and the sender's physical address. The full text of the CAN-SPAM law is available here.
Popular name for the U.S. law regulating commercial email (Full name: Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003)
The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 establishes requirements for those who send commercial email, spells out penalties for spammers and companies whose products are advertised in spam if they violate the law, and gives consumers the right to ask emailers to stop spamming them. More information is available on the FTC web site.
The new laws that cover spam. Click here for more information
Federal legislation governing unsolicited commercial email that went into effect on January 1, 2004. This law does not prohibit unsolicited commercial email, but it does regulate how it must be sent. Lawmakers intended to protect the end user and to make prosecution of spammers easier.
Geocoding Opt-In Email Marketing