Intellectual Property Law

Seattle's "Spam King" Sentenced to Four Years

By Michael Atkins

Since Spam Notes’ Venkat Balasubramani is temporarily off the grid, I’ll pinch hit for him by mentioning that Robert Soloway — Seattle’s very own “Spam King” — was sentenced today. Western District Judge Marsha Pechman gave him 47 months.

Mr. Soloway reportedly sent tens of millions of emails per day and made $700,000 spamming in the last four years.

He will have to pay the $700,000 he received as restitution.

Mr. Soloway told a local TV station he thought the sentence was fair.

Prosecutors had asked for nine years in prison and a fine of between $400,000 and $1 million.

The case reportedly is Washington’s first under the CAN-SPAM Act, which criminalizes the sending of spam.

Graphic credit: Kirotv.com.

Full post as published by Seattle Trademark Lawyer on July 22, 2008 (boomark / email).