About SpamMATTERS Antispam Litigation Support

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SpamMATTERS is software designed to specifically support fighting Spam through legal action.

The software consists of server software called the SpamMATTERS Collator and client software which is installed on Email clients, email filtering gateways or email servers (any location where spam emails are detected).

SpamMATTERS Collator only needs to be installed at a location where spam will be collected and collated, typically this would be an ISP or Legal Firm. The connection from the client to the SpamMATTERS Collator does not require any special connections - submissions occur over the Internet without any firewall changes.

Changing the Equation

Spam is a “tragedy of commons”. Each individual is harmed in only a small way for a given incidence. However, the cumulative effect is massive. The volume of Spam is breaking the Internet backbone and causing massive productivity bandwidth and storage problems as ISPs, enterprises and even in the home.

Even if users avail themselves of Spam filtering technology, the fundamental problem is not removed – the cost of bandwidth and the open acceptance of mass illegal activity remains unchanged and the “cost of ownership” for the Spam filtering technology continues because of the ‘counter-measure' approach adopted – updates will continuously be required.

If Spam Filtering is the solution to Spam, then Spam will continue. Spam Filtering condones its continuation and colludes in its existence.In 2002, there was a marked increase in Spammers adopting various 'hacker'-style techniques to avoid spam-filtering software. This reflected a profound change indicating that spammers wealthy enough to employ technically savvy programmers.

Hacking is an illegal activity, spamming has generally been considered as a legal "nuisance": advertising and marketing being a part of capitalism. The impact of these hacker techniques turned email recipients to victims and has created a universal hatred for spam.

Spamming is overt, spamming hides its origin, yet spam has a "money-trail". Just as someone cannot lawfully force you to purchase a product, spam cannot lawfully continue to exist as a coercion.

The Table below illustrates the commercial attractiveness of being a Spammer. A ratio of Sales to Cost of 6667% is very attractive to any business person.

With good Antispam laws the equation becomes favourable to the consumer, litigator and recipient. This is a simple equation of economics - it becomes practical for spammers to STOP spamming if the punitive costs are too high.

By collaborating together and using SpamMATTERS Collation and Forensic technology the economic equation favours the plaintiff. If the "money-trail" leads overseas, then agencies in Russia, Asia and Nigeria can be paid well to establish evidence aiding in bringing a spammer to justice.