This is a misconception. Even though you can buy an "opt in list" from a broker who can provide you with such logs, and even though that person may have consented to receiving emails about products and services related to their interest, if YOU do the mailing, you still run the risk of a spam charge. That person is still NOT opted into you. In a case like this, the company that collected the opt in can send "third party offers".....in other words, you can hire this company to send your ad to their list, but THEY must do the mailing to comply with this complexity of the spam law. They CAN sell you the list and show you this log...even give it to you, but if YOU do the mailing, any one of those people can cry spam....and it WILL stick. Now, there may be one exception, and this is still being debated....and that is if the company collecting the email CLEARLY STATES on the opt in form that by opting in you are giving them permission to sell, rent or share your email address with others (Why would anyone want to do this?)....however, this is usually in such fine print or such language that most people would never know they are giving their permission for their email to be sold, rented or passed along. Even in such a case, it is best for you NOT to buy a list of this type. There are cases where people bought these lists, mailed to them, and wound up in very hot water. BTW...the Can Spam Act may cover the US, but most states have their own laws on top of that. What might be legal in one state may be illegal in another state. So, you not only have to know the federal laws, you have to know the individual state laws as well. Buy a list and you are playing with fire...even though you may have not had a problem before. I'm not saying you cannot get away with it, many have....but you can also get spam complaints, and depending on the person making the complaint, and how far they want to push it, it can get very messy for you. BTW...take this from someone who....in his early days....was slapped with a spam charge from someone from the state of Washington (one of the strictest states at that time) and once had to pay $6000 to a hosting company because my mailing actually downed one of their servers with spam compalints. And, I did this on "good and well-meaning advice" from members of forums who really didn't know the complexities of the law. Jim
It is best to gain leads yourself, instead of buying from a service. You do this by giving people you email the chance to opt in to what they are about to receive. If they click the opt in form and want to hear what you have to offer them and email them about, you will find that spam is the least of your worries.