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For Immediate Release
 
March 10, 2004
Green Comments on Anti-Spammer Lawsuits 
 
 
 
Washington, DC - Congressman Gene Green (D-Houston), co-author of the first anti-spam bill in Congress, and cosponsor of the Wilson-Green Anti-Spam Act of 2003, issued the following statement on the coordinated filing of the first major industry anti-spammer lawsuits announced today by America Online, EarthLink, Microsoft, and Yahoo:
 
“Media reports that the federal anti-spam laws are useless were greatly exaggerated.  Today, the private sector is biting back with six lawsuits against spammers who refuse to obey the new law.”
 
“I fought for a strong enforcement right for ISPs in the bill, and America Online, EarthLink, Microsoft, and Yahoo should be commended for using their own resources to hunt down the illegal spammers that plague our inboxes.  I know the Federal Trade Commission is working on rules to implement that Act and various State Attorneys General are also looking to take advantage of the new law.”
 
“The fight against spam will probably never be over, but we must do all we can to protect our inboxes and keep deceptive spammers on the run.  Fraud, deceit, and evasion have no place in commerce, including e-commerce.”
 
Major provisions of the Wilson-Green Anti-Spam Act of 2003, including tough enforcement rights for Internet Service Providers, were incorporated into the CAN-SPAM Act.  Sponsors of Wilson-Green pushed for increased enforcement and fewer loopholes, and supported the compromise legislation which was signed by the President on December 16, 2003 and became effective on January 1, 2004.
 
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