An alleged Australian spammer is suing an anti-spam advocate after being blacklisted by a spam prevention Web site, in what is believed to be a first of its kind case worldwide and one that could end up "bigger than Ben Hur", according to a source close to the proceedings.
Perth-based T3 Direct is seeking compensation of AU$43,750 from Joseph McNichol, whom it alleges caused the company to be blacklisted on the spews.org web site.
"It"s only the second spam-related lawsuit in Australia and the first of its kind worldwide," said Troy Rollo of the Coalition against Unsolicited Bulk E-mail. "It"s the first time someone has gone and sued someone else just for saying they are a spammer."
T3 is seeking loss and damages of AU$14,000 for replacing blocked or compromised IP numbers, $4,750 for labour costs of technicians to establish an alternative e-mail system, $5,000 to purchase a new server computer and $20,000 for loss of income it claims to have incurred over a 20-day waiting period for a new Internet connection to be installed.