FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National ‘do-not-email’ list concept won't stop spam, says Arial Software permission email marketing pioneer Mike Adams

TUCSON, Ariz. (Aug. 20, 2003) – The founder and president of Arial Software, a leading email marketing software developer since 1993, said in a company statement that the concept of a national “do-not-email” list is unneeded and unnecessary.

On the heels of the wildly popular national Do Not Call Registry, some legislators are now proposing a similar “do-not-email” list. “While a national ‘do-not-email’ list idea is well intentioned, it is unneeded and ineffective,” said permission email marketing expert Mike Adams. “Why? Because every email address on the Internet already belongs to a ‘do-not-email’ list. In other words, organizations have no right to send unsolicited emails in the first place. There is no need for an individual to state this right—that his or her email address is off limits to marketers—because such standing already exists.”

Adams said the very concept of a national “do-not-email” list contradicts the basic premise that email addresses are inherently private and protected. “Those who promote a national ‘do-not-email’ list are unknowingly promoting an ‘opt-out’ email economy, where every email address can be spammed until they say STOP!” he said. “In other words, passage of a national ‘do-not-email’ law would send the message that it is acceptable for marketers to email everybody who isn't on the list—a concept that stands in direct conflict with efforts to curtail spam in the first place.

While a national “do-not-email” list has the ring of a great idea and the genuine intentions of well-meaning people, it simply has no place in a permission-based email economy, Adams said. “Its legislation would worsen, not help, the problem of unsolicited email," he said.

About Arial Software

Arial Software is widely considered the industry leader in email software designed exclusively for relationship marketing through personalized messaging, also known as permission email marketing. Arial Software president and CEO Mike Adams developed the first permission email marketing desktop software application in 1993.

The company’s products are implemented by Fortune 500 companies and small organizations alike, to send outbound personalized email marketing messages directly to customers, prospects, members or subscribers. Arial’s client list includes AT&T, XM Satellite Radio, Dell Computer, ToysRUs.com, The Children’s Place, and Advanced Micro Devices.

Arial’s mission is to be a universal provider of software tools to automate, personalize and measure meaningful email communications. Company information can be found at the Arial Software Media Center, http://www.arialsoftware.com/presscenter.htm

An evaluation version of Campaign Enterprise 8 is available at: http://www.arialsoftware.com/sw_download.asp

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