Spammer hit with $11 billion fine
Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2006 8:50 amDespite the huge size of the award, Kramer is reported as being doubtful that he will receive any of the money. This raises questions as to whether this case is really much of a blow against these spammers, or US-based spammers in general.
Well, DUH!!!!!
Of course they will never collect that much money. For that matter, I would be surprised if they collected more than a few thousand (realtively speaing) from him. A fine like that may deter a large corporation, but not individuals who do things of this nature.
They would have been better off fining him $500,000 or so, at least they would have had a shot of collecting some or most of it.
This judgement is sort of like how the death penalty isn't a deterrent unless it is actually used, criminals commit heinous crimes because they know that the worst that will happen is that they sit in jail for 20+ years while their cases are appealed over & over again.
For something to be a deterrent, it actaully has to be put into practice and used consistently.