FTC Cracks down on Illegal “X-rated” Spam

From: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/07/alrsweep.shtm

In a crackdown on operations that illegally expose unwitting consumers to
graphic sexual content, the Federal Trade Commission has charged seven companies
with violating federal laws requiring warning labels on e-mail that contains
sexually-explicit content. U.S. District Court suits filed against three
operations seek civil penalties and a permanent bar on the illegal marketing.
Settlements with four other operations have imposed $1.159 million in civil
penalties. The settlements bar the illegal marketing practices in the future and
require that the defendants monitor their affiliates to ensure they are not
violating the law.

The settlements bar future violations of the CAN-SPAM Act and the Adult Labeling Rule. They also require that the defendants closely monitor the practices of their affiliate marketers to insure that they are not violating the law. ... Pure Marketing Solutions, LLC, a Florida company, and Internet Matrix Technology, a corporation based in Louisiana, will together pay $50,000. The settlements contain record-keeping provisions to allow the FTC to monitor the defendants’ compliance with the orders.

The complaint: http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0523045/050720comp0523045.pdf

The stipulated judgement: http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/0523045/050720stip0523045.pdf

This is the PureCash.com death-blow.

In the judgement is this bit:

Michael H. Gardner, on behalf of
Pure Marketing Solutions, LLC, and
Internet Matrix Technology, Inc

Because:

Charter/Organization ID: 35189339D
Name: INTERNET MATRIX TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Type Entity: Business Corporation
Status: Not Active (Voluntary action)
Last Report Filed on 02/14/2006
Mailing Address: 1027 FRIEDRICH ST., GRETNA, LA 70053
Domicile Address: 1027 FRIEDRICH ST., GRETNA, LA 70053
File Date: 12/21/2001
Registered Agent (Appointed 12/21/2001): DAVID VINTERELLA, 650 POYDRAS ST., STE. 2311, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130
Director: SIGMUND JOSEPH SOLARES, 1027 FRIEDRICH ST., GRETNA, LA 70053
Director: MICHAEL H. GARDNER, 1027 FRIEDRICHS ST., GRETNA, LA 70053

Which lead to this in 2005:

Adult affiliate program PureCash will be shutting its doors and redirecting all traffic by midnight on March 14, according to a statement made by the company today.
Operated through a partnership between MikeAI’s HiRise Entertainment and Web Entertainment Group...

In early December, MikeAI and Serge Birbair handed over operation of the Oprano webmaster community to Jim McAnally and Nick.

Speaking of interesting connections to The Producers, check out Serge Birbrair.

Still doing business with Directnic.com / Parked.com / etc.?? Why?
(I've got lots more for you...)