ALL EYES IN THE WORLD OF commercial e-mail are on the Free Speech Coalition, a trade group for online pornographers, as it takes the state of Utah to court over its so-called child protection e-mail address registry. It’s the latest round in a bitter fight over state registries, which are opposed even by the Federal Trade Commission.
The court battle will involve constitutional issues. But as is often the case, the real issue is money.
E-MAIL MARKETERS ARE IN the uncomfortable position of cheering for a pornography trade group as it takes Utah to court over the state’s so-called child protection e-mail address registry.
The Free Speech Coalition filed suit against Utah Nov. 17, attempting to get the state’s child protection law overturned. The group claims the law is pre-empted by the federal Can Spam Act, and that it unconstitutionally interferes with interstate commerce.
Like Michigan’s, Utah’s registry allows parents and guardians to opt out of e-mail containing material that’s illegal for minors to view or buy; all they have to do is enter children’s e-mail addresses and other
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