Anti-Spam Filters, ISPs, and the Law

Why should we let ISPs dictate the source and content of the e-mail they allow us to receive? That's the question posed by ImagineNation in a recent white paper on mail filters and the consequences of ISPs using mail filters and other schemes to block spam mail. The white paper is a free report from the company available at http://eMstamp.org/Documents/

June 10, 2004 -- In a recent interview, Mr. Davey, one of the inventors of the eMstamp system had this to say: "I'm concerned that in the name of expediency [to block spam mail], we're rushing headlong into a multi tiered Internet. I'm a small businessman so I quickly embraced the Internet as a way of leveling the playing field. Now with ISPs and hosting companies controlling our e-mail and signing on to mail reader, bonded sender, and authenticated user filtering schemes, we're rushing headlong into a system where big companies dictate the content and source of our Internet communications."

The paper describes mail filters and the areas of application. It explores some of the failings of filters and the costs associated with using filters at the MTA (Message Transfer Agent) level. MTAs are the computers that transfer messages over the Internet. They are run by ISPs and other commercial enterprises. The paper endorses the use of filters applied at the end user level by mail clients while raising concerns over MTA level filtering by ISPs.

ImagineNation proposes a simple alternative to filtering that puts a stop to spam mail at the source. It's called the eMstamp system wherein MTAs buy credits in bulk and apply a given number to each message before sending. Incoming MTAs capture the applied credits for reuse in sending mail. This way only MTAs that are sending more messages than received, such as commercial and spammer MTAs, will need to buy credits. MTAs operated by regular e-mail providers like AOL, Yahoo, and Hotmail always have more incoming than outgoing mail so they never have to buy credits or charge users for sending mail.

About ImagineNation ImagineNation is small, diversified creator of specialty software. The company is currently evaluating avenues to commercialize the eMstamp system. Details on eMstamp and e-mail contact information is available at http://eMstamp.org .

Contact
Mel Davey
ImagineNation Inc
PO Box 212
Swansea, MA 02777    
800-382-1866