Legal Question in Technology Law in Montana

Sending Email Annoncement

We offer online courses on different subjects. We have had hundreds of people register and take our courses. When they sign up for a course, the current form doesn't ask them if they want to get an annoucement from us regarding any new course.

However, we would like to start doing this -- sending an email announcement to everyone who has taken a course from us before and letting them know about our new courses.

Is there a legal issue here and spamming? Again all these people have taken courses from us before.

If we put a note at the bottom of our email asking the person to request to be taken off our list if they don't want to hear about our new courses, is that ok?

Thanks

Sharon


Asked on 9/26/02, 11:56 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Geoffrey G. Gussis, Esq. Riker, Danzig LLP

Re: Sending Email Annoncement

You want to have clear opt-in language on your web page to notify the user that you are going to send them additional email. This should be coupled with a Privacy Policy and a Terms and Conditions which the user easily link to if they want to find out about your policies.

Read more
Answered on 9/26/02, 12:49 pm
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Sending Email Annoncement

It is most important to let customers decide for themselves if they want an email. Nothing irritates people more than getting them when they don't want them, or being added to a mass mailing list when they don't want to be. Identify clearly the 'button' which will cause them to receive the email, and let them opt out if they don't wish to receive it. There must also be opt-out provisions at the bottom of such emails to comply with current spam laws.

Read more
Answered on 9/26/02, 1:57 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Computer & Technology Law questions and answers in Montana