In response, the study group made a new unsubscribe request after receiving each unsought message. JCPenney was named the worst offender among the eight corporate miscreants because it sent the greatest number of unwanted e-mails. The company had sent the test address four advertising messages by March 2001, even after repeated unsubscribe requests, Smelt said. And the messages were hefty graphical downloads containing numerous pictures. There should be a person taking care of the Web site at all times to add and subtract names, and if you don't want to get e-mails from us any more, then you shouldn't have to.
Corporate spam differs from the typical spam that Internet users often receive.
The messages originate from companies you've never heard of and usually contain false return addresses. Corporate spam messages, by contrast, bear the names of well-known industry leaders. Using a filter to block all e-mails from such large companies could interfere with important business dealings. Since corporations are free to hold any opinions they like and may send e-mail to anyone who asks, freedom of speech is not at stake in prohibiting corporate spam. If unsolicited corporate e-mail becomes more widely accepted, on the other hand, a torrent could be unleashed.