WebGuerrilla - 7:07 am on May 8, 2001 (gmt 0)

>>Yes, there are potentially legal issues involved with selling the addresses. It is, essentially, participating in sending unsolicited email, which is called spam, for which there are increasingly tougher laws, and severer penalties.

Let me start off by saying I hate spam too!:) However, I think you would have a hard time making a case of selling customer data criminal. If you ever read any of the privacy policies of some of the dot bombs Justin mentioned, I can just about guarantee that there was the standard clause in them that the "may from time to time share the data."

When a dot com goes out of business, their client list is probably the most valuable assest they have. If they go bankrupt, and close shop owing money to creditors, The court will force them to sell anything of value to pay their debts. It happens all the time.

Regarding the ethical side, I think it's a bad idea. (and one you should only consider in bankruptcy. :))If your site is something you plan to keep going for awhile, then pedaling customer info will probably do more harm than good. If you do decide to do it, then at the very least you need to clearly explain in your privacy policy that you intend to share information you collect.