Microsoft wins £45,000 from spammer

Microsoft has won a civil action against a British spammer

Microsoft has won £45,000 in compensation after successfully suing a British spammer. 

Paul Fox was ordered to pay the money, thought to be the largest award of its kind in Europe, after Microsoft brought a civil action.

Redmond decided to pursue the civil route because the UK's anti-spam laws laid down in the 2003 Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations allow for a maximum £5,000 fine. 

Fox used a Hotmail account to send the messages, even though its terms and conditions prohibit the sending or forwarding of spam. 

The messages promoted a porn website and made money by getting people to send a mobile phone text message to receive the password.

Fox was also hit with a court order banning him from spamming again. Any subsequent offence would constitute contempt of court and open him up to a criminal prosecution.