I.D. Internet Direct. Ltd. successful in suit against junk emailer

April 1, 1999, Toronto - In the first successful lawsuit of its kind in Canada, independent Internet service provider (ISP) I.D. Internet Direct Ltd. today announced that the court has ruled in its favour in its recent application for an injunction against junk emailer Cory Altelaar. The ruling grants I.D. Internet Direct. Ltd. an injunction preventing Cory Altelaar from delivering junk email through its systems and awards the ISP a reimbursement of its legal costs.

"This is a ground-breaking ruling in the struggle against junk email in Canada," says John Nemanic, President of I.D. Internet Direct. Ltd. "If Mr. Altelaar violates the court order and attempts to use our services for junk email again, he'll be looking at some serious charges."

Nemanic says that his company received several calls and emails of support from other ISPs who were similarly abused by junk emailers (also known as "spammers"). "We want to thank our lawyer, Andrew Lundy of Brunner and Lundy, for his fine work in this case," says Nemanic. "This ruling sends junk emailers a serious message: this activity is not legally acceptable in Canada. You can try to hide, but you will be caught and risk prosecution if you abuse the Internet."