CAN-SPAM ACT Updates for 2008

The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (a Federal law) establishes the requirements (and penalties) for those who send commercial email.  You can access an overview at the Federal Trade Commission Web site.  An important update was just released, which is to go into effect on July 7, 2008.  A great summary of the new interpretations can be found at Pepper Hamilton’s Web site.  The key updates include clarifcations of the following:

• Who is a commercial sender
• What “physical address” really means (consultants can now use an “accurately-registered post office box or private mailbox established under the U.S. Postal Service regulations”)
• Requirements relating to how to opt out subscribers