[FAQ 911009] Why not comply with the CAN SPAM Act of 2003?
What it requires:  

The law requires the following for all unsolicited commercial email, regardless of number of emails sent:

ð      Include a way to unsubscribe over the Internet 

ð      Honor unsubscribe within 10 days 

ð      Unsubscribe mechanism must work for at least 30 days after message is sent 

ð      Include the sender's valid postal mailing address 

ð      Clearly identify the email as an advertisement in some fashion

ð      Use an accurate sender name and a valid email address

ð      Accurately describe the content of the email in the subject line

How eBlast helps you comply:

eBlast can not police you, but it tries to help you do the right thing in regards to meet the Can Spam Act of 2003 

ð      Using the {Unsubscribe} and {Subscribe} tag in your email message.

ð      The Tool Managers Return Sync will unsubscribe and subscribe requesters. Using the Address Manager you can see when a contact was added to the list and when one was un-subscribed.

ð      eBlast's un-subscribe mechanism is forever 

ð      Under setup you're From Name and From Email Address is listed. Can you cheat and put soothing different? Sure you can, but them you are spamming, which is not a good thing.

ð      In the Subject Matter clearly identify what this email really is about. Also keep the Subject Matter as a constant so Outlook users can create a Rule to put your email messages in a special folder.

What the law covers:

The law applies to unsolicited advertisements and promotional emails. It also covers many email newsletters:

The term ''commercial electronic mail message'' means any electronic mail message the primary purpose of which is the commercial advertisement or promotion of a commercial product or service (including content on an Internet website operated for a commercial purpose).

This law pre-empts existing state anti-spam laws. It applies if your business or organization is located within the United States, or if any recipient is within the U.S.

What it does not cover:

Requested email: If recipients have specifically agreed to receive such messages, the requirements below do not apply.

Relationship and transactional business email: e.g. email about orders, accounts, ongoing services, and product updates for which the recipient has already paid, is required only to use an accurate sender name and email address, and not falsify the sender IP address.

Non-commercial email: e.g. email about non-profit and political events.

Additional requirements (Current):

ð      Donot falsify the sender IP address  

ð      Donot send email through an outgoing mail (SMTP) server you're not authorized to use 

ð      Donot collect or harvest email addresses from Web pages or Usenet newsgroups 

ð      Donot create email addresses using a random generator or dictionary

ð      Include a warning in the email subject if the message contains adult content

Additional requirements (Future):

Although the law took effect on January 1, 2004, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) clarified some of its provisions as per the schedule below:

ð      Recommend more specifically how to classify a message as an advertisement, within 12 months

ð      Recommend more specifically how advertisements must identify themselves, within 18 months 

ð      Recommend rewards for reporting violators, within 9 months 

ð      May recommend a national do-not-email registry, within 6 months 

ð      Decide on a way to identify adult content in the subject line, within 120 days 

ð      Decide on how to prevent cellular phone spam, within 270 days

If you want to read the full Act, then click here to download the PDF version.