Sec. 10. Unsolicited or misleading electronic mail; prohibition.

576 words·~3 min read·/il/chapter-815/act-511/10

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)No individual or entity may initiate or cause to be initiated an unsolicited electronic mail advertisement if the electronic mail advertisement

(i)uses a third party's Internet domain name without permission of the third party, or otherwise misrepresents any information in identifying the point of origin or the transmission path of an electronic mail advertisement or

(ii)contains false or misleading information in the subject line.

(a-5) An initiator of an unsolicited electronic mail advertisement must establish a toll-free telephone number or valid sender-operated return electronic mail address that the recipient of the unsolicited electronic mail advertisement may call or electronically mail to notify the sender not to electronically mail any further unsolicited electronic mail advertisements.

(a-10) An initiator of an unsolicited electronic mail advertisement is prohibited from selling or transferring in any manner the electronic mail address of any person who has notified the initiator that the person does not want to receive any further unsolicited electronic mail advertisements.

(a-15) Each unsolicited electronic mail advertisement's subject line shall include "ADV:" as its first 4 characters. For any unsolicited electronic mail advertisement that contains information regarding the lease, sale, rental, gift offer, or other disposition of any realty, goods, services, or extension of credit, that may only be viewed, purchased, rented, leased, or held in possession by an individual 18 years of age and older, the subject line of each and every message shall include "ADV:ADLT" as the first 8 characters.

(b)This Section applies when the unsolicited electronic mail advertisement is delivered to an Illinois resident via an electronic mail service provider's service or equipment located in this State.

(c)Any person, other than an electronic mail service provider, who suffers actual damages as a result of a violation of this Section committed by any individual or entity may bring an action against such individual or entity. The injured person may recover attorney's fees and costs, and may elect, in lieu of recovery of actual damages, to recover the lesser of $10 for each and every unsolicited electronic mail advertisement transmitted in violation of this Section, or $25,000 per day. The injured person shall not have a cause of action against the electronic mail service provider that merely transmits the unsolicited electronic mail advertisement over its computer network.

(d)Any electronic mail service provider who suffers actual damages as a result of a violation of this Section committed by any individual or entity may bring an action against such individual or entity. The injured person may recover attorney's fees and costs, and may elect, in lieu of recovery of actual damages, to recover the lesser of $10 for each and every unsolicited electronic mail advertisement transmitted in violation of this Section, or $25,000 per day.

(e)The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to limit any person's right to pursue any additional civil remedy otherwise allowed by law.

(f)An electronic mail service provider may, upon its own initiative, block the receipt or transmission through its service of any unsolicited electronic mail advertisement that it reasonably believes is, or will be, sent in violation of this Section.

(g)No electronic mail service provider may be held liable for any action voluntarily taken in good faith to block the receipt or transmission through its service of any unsolicited electronic mail advertisement which it reasonably believes is, or will be, sent in violation of this Section.