Microsoft Dethrones Spam King

Dethroned spam king Scott Richter has agreed to pay $7 million to Microsoft to settle allegations of illegal and deceptive email practices. As part of the settlement, Richter admitted no wrong-doing. The lawsuit was a joint effort of Microsoft and New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer. In 2004, Richter settled with the state of New York for $50,000.

According to Microsoft General Counsel, Brad Smith, Microsoft plans to devote $5 million of the settlement to increasing their "Internet enforcement efforts" and an additional million "will be directed to New York state through Microsoft Unlimited Potential donations, which help community centers to expand computer-related skills training for youths and adults".

At the time charges were orginally filed, it was estimated that Richter was responsible for as much as 38 billion spam messages per year.