KIPLINGER RECOMMENDS

Home > Technology

COMMENT

BUZZ UP

DIGG

CHECK OUT:

EXECUTIVE POLL

Bernard Madoff, convicted of running an $65 billion Ponzi scheme, was sentenced to 150 years in jail. What’s your take on his punishment?

Compare Price Quotes 100+ Services

OUR PREMIUM CONTENT

The Kiplinger Tax Letter
The Kiplinger Agriculture Letter
The Kiplinger California Letter
Kiplinger's Biofuels Market Alert
Kiplinger's Retirement Report

SUBSCRIBER HELP

CURRENT LETTER

By Knight Kiplinger

The Kiplinger Washington Editors

July 2, 2009

By year-end or so, Congress will give the nod to a major rewriting of the nation's financial regulatory system. This week’s Kiplinger Letter explores whether the package will do more harm than good and what lawmakers are likely to include.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: The Economy, Business Costs, Taxes, Supreme Court, Energy, Workplace Regulations, Climate Change, Health Care Legislation and Foreign Policy

PREVIOUS ISSUES

CORRECTIONS

TRY THE LETTER:
Subscribe | See Sample

YOUR FEEDBACK

SUBSCRIBERLOG: Got a topic you'd like to discuss? Or a problem or question? Please join our exclusive forum for Letter subscribers only.

ASK US: A Kiplinger Letter editor will promptly answer subscriber questions.

OPEN FORUM: Share your insights and analysis with other visitors.

I just attended a franchise seminar. The speaker represents a few hundred franchises that (he says) are hand picked. He has the prospect (aka victim?) answer some questions about themselves then he makes recomendations - based on your personality, capital situation, etc.. If you pick a franchise, then he does some due dilligence for you. If you both decide it's a good idea, he helps you get started. He says he offers this service free of charge, which means he gets a commission if he's able to sell you a franchise. Has anyone done this? Successfully? Unsuccessfully?

-- fender

Is Your Firm Following Antispam Laws?

Antispam laws are aimed at those junky penny-stock, porn and prescription drug come-ons that snarl your in-box -- but they apply to legitimate firms, too.

Worth Reading: The Quick Take from Kiplinger

October 2007

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur has more than 250 lawyers in six offices located in Ohio, Florida and Washington, D.C.

Sure, you're offering a good deal on surplus building supplies to favored customers, not posing as a Nigerian government official all too willing to share his millions in ill-gotten gains. But if the offer is made by e-mail, you are covered by the same federal antispam law.

The 2004 CAN-SPAM law -- it stands for Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing law -- has done little to keep e-mail users from being flooded by scams and offers of cheap pornography and prescription drugs. But everyday lawful companies need to be aware and understand the law "because CAN-SPAM also applies to legitimate businesses that communicate or advertise via e-mail," advises the law firm Porter Wright Morris & Arthur.

Some key provisions to be aware of if your firm does or is considering sending mass e-mail ads or other communications to customers and potential customers: clearly labeling mass promotions as such; giving recipients clear easy ways to opt out; honoring opt-out requests within 10 days. Be mindful of these and other rules. Slipups can be costly. CAN-SPAM violators are subject to both civil and criminal penalties.

READER COMMENTS

Post a comment

Hide comment form

Read all comments (1)

Read recent comments

POSTED BY: JSB (October 05, 2007 04:24 PM)
all the laws in the world will not make a bit of difference unless they are enforced, and these anti-spam laws are ignored for email and fax machines alike. unless the government starts enforcing the laws, we the people and business owners will continue to be victimized.

MORE: Kiplinger Recommends | Technology

TOOLS: