larryhatch - 3:46 pm on Jan 7, 2006 (gmt 0)

I like Otech's idea. $10 per spam email, payable in USA $ to USA victims, $CD to Canadians etc.
(Europeans would get Euros of course.)

With GOOD legislation, all that takes is a legal judgement that "consolidate your Viagra loans"
(or whatever) is indeed SPAM.

ANYONE who received that message collects 10 (whatever) very simple.

Normal legal defenses would and should apply, in case a spammer hides behind innocent parties.
Otherwise, all ill gotten gains are forfeit.

All of this goes double for the inventors and propagators of viruses.
Teeny boppers? Suppose some kid sprays paint all over your brick/mortar store front?
Parents are then responsible. You create the monster, its your dime.

Anything less and there's no accountability here.

The very same principles, property rights and all, need to be applied to the electronic scene.
Those same principles have served us well for a long long time.

The tough part will be keeping politicians out of the mix. -Larry