"One. Billion. Dollars! Muhuhahahahah!"

Papa_Complex · 10-06-2010, 07:51 AM

Canadian spammer ordered to pay Facebook $1 billion

MONTREAL—Spammers of the world, beware.

A Montreal man has been ordered to pay Facebook $1 billion after allegedly spamming its members with a variety of messages including penis-enlargement ads.

Quebec Superior Court upheld a ruling by a U.S. court that Adam Guerbuez owed the money for allegedly flooding people's Facebook pages with more than 4 million messages.

The case is touted as a potential precedent-setter — with some calling it the largest such penalty, by far, in Canadian legal history.

But Facebook shouldn't hold its breath waiting for the money. Guerbuez says he's legally broke and therefore not compelled to give anything to the social-networking giant.

“I don't have to,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Tuesday.

“I officially declared bankruptcy and it was filed and put into effect over two months ago. This judgment was already deposed as part of the bankruptcy.”

A court in California ruled in 2008 that Guerbuez had violated U.S. anti-spam laws. He was ordered to pay Facebook $873,000,000 (U.S.) — or $100 in damages and $100 in penalties for each of the more than 4 million messages he allegedly sent.

That works out to more than $1 billion Cdn. The penalty was upheld last week in the Quebec ruling.

But Guerbuez said Tuesday he has never publicly admitted to posting the messages.

Guerbuez's Canadian lawyer, Eric Potvin, said the U.S ruling was granted by default because Guerbuez didn't present a defence in the original case.

Ironically, Guerbuez said the experience has generally been positive for him and there's a book deal in the works about his case.

Guerbuez, who described his job as an Internet marketing professional not a spammer, said people have offered him jobs and raised business opportunities with him.

“The truth about this actually is that it's only helped me to become more of a public figure. It's been plenty of free publicity.”

Quebec Superior Court Justice Lucie Fournier also forbade Guerbuez from having a Facebook account or being involved in any way with the social-networking site.

Guerbuez said he promotes a variety of products, including medication to treat such conditions as erectile dysfunction and enlarge men's genitals.

Homeslice · 10-06-2010, 08:10 AM

Should have barred him from ever working in the "field" again.

I don't really know who's stupid enough to click on a link in an unsolicited email anyway. Anyone who does gets what they deserve.

Papa_Complex · 10-06-2010, 08:21 AM

It would have been much better if a criminal judgment was in place, because something like barring him from touching a computer again would have been a possibility. Unfortunately most of these situations seem to come down to just a civil ruling.

Up here most court findings are immune from being discharged in bankruptcy. Maybe they should have sued him here, instead? The judgment would have been a tiny fraction of what they were granted, but it would have been more likely to be enforced.

derf · 10-06-2010, 08:51 AM

He should just write a check for the amount made out to facebook and hand it over. Let them try and cash that bitch.

Particle Man · 10-06-2010, 10:02 AM

Screw facebook spammers, go after e-mail spammers. *grumble*

Rider · 10-06-2010, 10:14 AM

If a million dollars gets you 2 chicks at the same time, does a billion dollars get you two thousand chicks at the same time?

10-06-2010, 07:51 AM	#1
Papa_Complex Nomadic Tribesman Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brampton, Canada Moto: '09 ER-6n Posts: 11,150	"One. Billion. Dollars! Muhuhahahahah!" Canadian spammer ordered to pay Facebook $1 billion MONTREAL—Spammers of the world, beware. A Montreal man has been ordered to pay Facebook $1 billion after allegedly spamming its members with a variety of messages including penis-enlargement ads. Quebec Superior Court upheld a ruling by a U.S. court that Adam Guerbuez owed the money for allegedly flooding people's Facebook pages with more than 4 million messages. The case is touted as a potential precedent-setter — with some calling it the largest such penalty, by far, in Canadian legal history. But Facebook shouldn't hold its breath waiting for the money. Guerbuez says he's legally broke and therefore not compelled to give anything to the social-networking giant. “I don't have to,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Tuesday. “I officially declared bankruptcy and it was filed and put into effect over two months ago. This judgment was already deposed as part of the bankruptcy.” A court in California ruled in 2008 that Guerbuez had violated U.S. anti-spam laws. He was ordered to pay Facebook $873,000,000 (U.S.) — or $100 in damages and $100 in penalties for each of the more than 4 million messages he allegedly sent. That works out to more than $1 billion Cdn. The penalty was upheld last week in the Quebec ruling. But Guerbuez said Tuesday he has never publicly admitted to posting the messages. Guerbuez's Canadian lawyer, Eric Potvin, said the U.S ruling was granted by default because Guerbuez didn't present a defence in the original case. Ironically, Guerbuez said the experience has generally been positive for him and there's a book deal in the works about his case. Guerbuez, who described his job as an Internet marketing professional not a spammer, said people have offered him jobs and raised business opportunities with him. “The truth about this actually is that it's only helped me to become more of a public figure. It's been plenty of free publicity.” Quebec Superior Court Justice Lucie Fournier also forbade Guerbuez from having a Facebook account or being involved in any way with the social-networking site. Guerbuez said he promotes a variety of products, including medication to treat such conditions as erectile dysfunction and enlarge men's genitals. __________________ "Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising" http://www.morallyambiguous.net/

10-06-2010, 08:21 AM	#3
Papa_Complex Nomadic Tribesman Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Brampton, Canada Moto: '09 ER-6n Posts: 11,150	It would have been much better if a criminal judgment was in place, because something like barring him from touching a computer again would have been a possibility. Unfortunately most of these situations seem to come down to just a civil ruling. Up here most court findings are immune from being discharged in bankruptcy. Maybe they should have sued him here, instead? The judgment would have been a tiny fraction of what they were granted, but it would have been more likely to be enforced. __________________ "Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge, "Dorkness Rising" http://www.morallyambiguous.net/

10-06-2010, 08:51 AM	#4
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	He should just write a check for the amount made out to facebook and hand it over. Let them try and cash that bitch. __________________

10-06-2010, 10:02 AM	#5
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	Screw facebook spammers, go after e-mail spammers. grumble __________________ I'm not "fat." I'm "Enlarged to show texture." Handle every stressful situation like a DOG: If you can't eat it or hump it, pi$$ on it & walk away.

10-06-2010, 08:10 AM	#2
Homeslice Elitist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Moto: Gix 750 Posts: 11,351	Should have barred him from ever working in the "field" again. I don't really know who's stupid enough to click on a link in an unsolicited email anyway. Anyone who does gets what they deserve.

10-06-2010, 10:14 AM	#6
Rider Moto GP Star Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 12,156	If a million dollars gets you 2 chicks at the same time, does a billion dollars get you two thousand chicks at the same time?