BBC News quotes:

US software giant Microsoft has won a $7m (£3.9m) court settlement from a businessman considered to be one of the world’s biggest senders of spam email.

Scott Richter agreed to pay the sum after Microsoft filed a lawsuit against his internet firm Opt In Real Big.

Microsoft alleged Opt In Real Big had sent millions of unsolicited commercial emails, using forged sender names and false subject lines.

Mr Richter denied any wrongdoing, but said his firm’s operations had changed.

Good news for anti-spam, even if the money is going to Microsoft.

A quick look at OptInRealBig.com‘s front page sees no mention of their loss, but writes:

Welcome to OptInRealBig.com! We encourage you to browse our web site and view our MEDIA KIT to learn more about OptInBig and the ideals and principles we adhere to when conducting business in this growing industry. We hope you enjoy learning more about what has made OptInBig so successful and what differentiates us from our competitors.

Hmmm: “ideals and principles we adhere to when conducting business” … “what differentiates us from our competitors”

Yep, we know what that is. You spammed big time! You advocated spam. Your ideal is to spam. I am sceptical that your business methods have significantly changed (once a spammer always a spammer?) We’ll see.