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North American Network Operators Group Date Prev | Date Next | Date Index | Thread Index | Author Index | Historical RE: luser of the day award!
Has anyone started a "Paul Vix Defense Fund?" I'll contribute! (Speaking for myself, not for my company) Bill Goldstein Senior Internet Specialist AT&T [email protected] TEL:(412)642-7288 > ---------- > From: [email protected][SMTP:[email protected]] > To: [email protected] > Subject: luser of the day award! > > Anyone else get mail from this idiot? > > Alan Bechtold ([email protected]) @ 11/18/1998 12:48 - Original > Problem Detail: > > > Dear sir or madam -- > =20 > It has come to my attention that your company utilizes the MAPS = > BLACKHOLE list to block purported SPAMMERS from sending E-mail to your = > system. While the idea might sound good I am writing to inform you that = > you will be named in a Federal Lawsuit if you do not CEASE AND DESIST = > use of this list IMMEDIATELY. > =20 > Here is why: > =20 > My company, BBS PRESS SERVICE, INC., designs and hosts Web sites. That's = > all we do. We don't sell access to the Internet. We don't sell E-mail = > accounts. Besides some E-mail accounts for our employees to use when = > contacting our customers, and one E-mail account we use to send out a = > weekly newsletter to our customers, we don't generally handle any E-mail = > at all. > =20 > I am anti-SPAM. I advise all of my 5,000+ clients against the use of = > SPAM. Still, two have used it to promote sites we host for them. > =20 > Naturally, this resulted in our receiving the usual barrage of E-mails = > DEMANDING that we remove the Web sites of the offending parties. Our = > attorneys have advised us that it is NOT in our best interest to do so. = > Removing the Web site of anyone for something they did OUTSIDE of our = > system, even if it was indeed PROMOTING a site hosted on our system, = > would in fact expose my company to possible lawsuit from the SPAMMER! > =20 > I understand many Web site design and hosting services stipulate in = > their contracts that they reserve the right to pull any site if evidence = > of SPAMMING is seen -- but my attorneys have also advised me that this = > is completely unenforceable in court and wouldn't stand up to a court = > challenge. > =20 > I don't know about you but I am totally opposed to being REQUIRED to = > take action against anyone for anything they've done outside of my = > control. Do we also want to become liable for pulling Web sites held by = > anyone who is convicted of a crime...any crime? Wouldn't this lead to = > the requirement of background checks, to make sure a Web site customer = > has never indeed beenconvicted of a crime? > =20 > The ramifications are tremendous. > =20 > Anyway -- I write to anyone complaining about SPAM from a client of mine = > (and they do track down the Web site host even if we didn't originate = > the SPAM) and inform them of my position. > =20 > One person apparently forwarded my reply to MAPS. Even though my reply = > states CLEARLY that I am OPPOSED to SPAM, the kind folks at MAPS decided = > to add my company's IP to the list anyway. The problem is -- they won't = > TALK about resolving the problem. Their "volunteer" hung up on me when I = > called, after first being outright surly and rude with me. I tried = > E-mailing Paul Vix to tell him to remove my company's IP from his list = > but -- guess what -- my E-mail got REJECTED by his system because he = > uses the list! I finally got a message through by going through another = > provider. Meanwhile Paul Vix has not returned my urgent calls and hasn't = > been available on the phone when I do call. > =20 > This is causing my company irreparable harm. MAPS' whole attitude and = > the way they create their so-called LIST is, because of my case alone, = > entirely questionable. And he has left me little choice but to file suit = > against Paul, MAPS and anyone associated with the LIST or using it in = > their products or on their services. > =20 > This is where you come in. I am writing to tell you right now -- cease = > and desist from using the MAPS BLACKHOLE list on your service = > IMMEDIATELY. I will be including anyone and everyone still using the = > MAPS list in my lawsuit against MAPS. Period. > =20 > You might also want to contact Paul Vixie and let him know the legal = > jeopardy his methods have placed you in. By comparison, the SPAMMERS are = > starting to look like the "good guys." I know they're not and you know = > they're not but MAPS must end here and now. > =20 > I would appreciate your comments and cooperation. > =20 > > [Mime entry text/html removed] >
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