[Am-info] Gates forecasts victory over spam (Gates is right)

[Gene Gaines]

Agree with Joe.

On Monday, February 2, 2004, 9:21:18 AM, Joe Moore wrote:

> On Mon, Jan 26, 2004 at 10:30:36AM -0800, Hans Reiser wrote:
>> I think payment at risk is very much the right solution, and the only
>> one that can work.  All the rest is an arms race that the spammers will
>> win because they care more.  My only concern is that we are taking too
>> long to go to payment at risk, and we are going to be suffering the
>> whole time until it happens.
>> 
>> I don't think that payment at risk is Gates's original idea though....

> Except that payment at risk requires charging the spammer.

> In order to charge the spammer, you have to find the spammer.

> If you can find the spammer, why not charge it with the rest of the
> illegal activites that go along with spamming (fraud, slander, peddling
> obscenity, prescription fraud, tresspass, computer misuse, etc)

> --Joe

Exactly.  If the originator can be found to charge him under
payment at risk, then he can be found to fine him and shut him
down.

Payment at risk makes me nervous for this reason.  This week, I
will send out maybe 1,000 emails to a couple of non-profit
membership lists, all people who have joined the organizations
and stated they want to receive emails.  And all I will be doing
is announcing meeting dates or advising that an electronic
newsletter has been posted to a web site.  But.  Suppose that a
cabal of people in one of the organizations decides to attempt to
take over, and decide to suppress communication by charging back
a "payment at risk" for the newsletter announcements I have been
sending them monthly for the past year.  Hmmm.  Only way I can
see to protect myself is to get a letter signed from each person
on the email list stating they will not use "payment at risk."
Oh.  So now I have to start an opt-out list for those eschewing
"payment at risk."  Worms here.  I'd rather know what is legal
and what is not, and expect our governments to enforce.

Gene Gaines