Earthlink Wins Multi-Million Dollar Judgment Against Spammers

ATLANTA — A company accused of sending millions of spam messages has been ordered to pay Internet service provider Earthlink $11.6 million after a U.S. District court judge ruled against the Nevada-based marketing company because it did not answer the plaintiff’s complaint.

Earthlink filed suit against KSTM under the Can-Spam Act, charging that the company sent misleading emails to promote the lmlgdnhk.info website, which it used to sell mortgages online.

Judge Timothy Batten ruled against KSTM, saying that the company “knowingly and willfully” violated the Can-Spam Act.

"This judgment should be fair warning that if you spam, we will sue," Larry Slovensky, assistant general counsel for Earthlink, said

According to the judicial order, KSTM must refrain from engaging in such conduct as falsifying the “from” field in the email address, hiding the identity of the email sender, selling email addresses and accessing or obtaining Earthlink accounts. If the company violates the order, it will be held in contempt of court, Batten said.

The Can-Spam Act requires that a spam email contain accurate header and subject lines, identify itself as an ad, and include the sender’s postal address. The law also requires that the spam give recipients an opt-out method, so consumers can elect not to receive messages from the spammer in the future.

Since 1996, Earthlink has sued hundreds of spammers and won more than $200 million in judgments, including two criminal convictions against spammers who received prison sentences, the company said.

In addition to Earthlink’s Can-Spam claims against KSTM, the ISP also filed suit under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as well as the Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Show More