Microsoft Files Suits Seeking to Halt Spam

Microsoft Corp. filed 15 lawsuits against individuals and corporations that sent more than 2 billion unwanted messages to users of the MSN Internet and Hotmail e-mail services.

Microsoft is seeking damages and an end to spammers sending messages that tout pyramid schemes, pornography and body enhancement products.

Separately, the U.S. and 29 other nations agreed to share information and devote more resources to investigating and prosecuting international fraud schemes.

The guidelines, adopted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, will enable speedier prosecution of Internet and telemarketing scam artists who have taken advantage of international boundaries to evade the laws of individual countries after defrauding consumers.

From Bloomberg News