In message <4738cuobuatfc6l3hn98n41u2b4fbqflr1@4ax.com>, Lionel writes:

On Mon, 22 Apr 2002 11:53:58 +0100, James Cronin <james@unfortu.net> wrote:

[opt-in bulk email]

...

Has anyone ever actually come across such a contract in real life or are they just urban myths?

Urban myth. If you make damn sure that you clearly mark your bulk mail with the website/organisation at which your user subscibed, & you record the *way* they subscribed[0], you should be fine. It's also vitally important that you respond promptly to email that arrives at your domain's 'abuse@' address.

[0] Eg: IP address & time stamp from when they hit the 'subscribe me' button on a web form, copy of the signed paper form they sent in, etc.

See http://www.cctec.com/maillists/nanog/historical/0104/msg00718.html for a NANOG post -- and a link -- on the subject. --Steve Bellovin, http://www.research.att.com/~smb Full text of "Firewalls" book now at http://www.wilyhacker.com