California wins first state suit against spammers

In addition to the $2 million fine, the company and its owners were prohibited from sending any unsolicited commercial e-mail, disguising their identity by sending e-mail that appears to originate from an e-mail address that is not their own and accessing and using computers and computer systems of persons without their permission.

Furthermore, they were barred for 10 years from owning, managing and holding any economic interest in any company that advertises over the Internet without first providing written notice to the attorney general.

I don’t see a “small” $2 million fine from having much effect but the business limits might do some good after a few more applications.