TOKYO, JAPAN, November 6, 2001 --- NTT DoCoMo, Inc. and its eight regional subsidiaries announced today new countermeasures against the growing problem of spam e-mail. The measures include blocking bulk spam from entering the DoCoMo system, providing DoCoMo's 28 million i-mode customers with new ways to block spam, taking additional legal action against companies sending spam ("spammers"), and issuing more public announcements.
DoCoMo has already taken a variety of countermeasures to alleviate the inconveniences that spam causes customers, including taking legal action against spammers, enabling users to change their e-mail addresses via their handsets and providing customers with 400 free packets of data communications each month. Nevertheless, certain companies have become increasingly devious in their use of spam, forcing DoCoMo to implement these additional measures.
Blocking by the NTT DoCoMo System
To eliminate the heavy burden that bulk spam places on the network server of DoCoMo's i-mode mobile system, the company will begin blocking any e-mail sent to large numbers of invalid e-mail addresses. An application was submitted to the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications today and, when it is approved, the company plans to implement the new blocking measure as soon as possible.
This measure will also inhibit the ability of spammers to generate lists of valid e-mails. At present, some spammers send bulk e-mail to huge numbers of addresses generated by a computer. Valid addresses are accumulated through a process of elimination, since any invalid address that triggers a "user-unknown" message from the i-mode server is dropped from the list. With the new blocking function, however, mass spammers will no longer be able to receive these messages.
Blocking by Users
Although the above change is expected to substantially lower the number of spam sent through the DoCoMo system, it will not eliminate all unwanted e-mail. Accordingly, DoCoMo will again encourage users to change their addresses. About 90% of users have changed the default address originally assigned to them, but some people are still receiving spam, most likely because their new addresses have been placed on updated mailing lists.
DoCoMo will also strengthen ways that customers can block unwanted e-mail. Beginning next January, for example, users will be able to restrict incoming e-mail to a maximum of 10 user-designated domains.
In addition, new handset models to be marketed in the new fiscal year 2002 starting next April will enable users to check the subject line of an incoming e-mail prior to downloading. The user can choose not to receive the e-mail and simply delete it.
Other measures currently available to users include limiting incoming e-mail to user-specified addresses, changing current addresses, blocking user-specified addresses and requiring senders to include a user-supplied password.
Public Announcements
To ensure the maximum effectiveness of the above efforts, DoCoMo will encourage users to take full advantage of all available countermeasures by placing announcements in the broadcast and print media. In addition, increased information will be provided through the DoCoMo website and i-mode portal, as well as fliers enclosed with monthly bills. The company will also set up customer service desks at marketing-promotion events to answer inquiries about spam.
Legal Action
DoCoMo is strengthening its legal action against spammers. On October 29, the company won, from the Yokohama District Court, a temporal injunctive relief against a Yokohama-based company that was sending bulk spam to large numbers of invalid addresses. DoCoMo is to take similar legal measures, including suing for damages, whenever suitable. In any appropriate case, the company will not hesitate to seek similar preliminary injunctions against anyone sending bulk spam to large numbers of invalid e-mail addresses, since this can place an excessive burden on system equipment of DoCoMo.
DoCoMo will also take other steps against spammers in cooperation with other mobile telecommunications operators to ensure the convenience and usefulness of Japan's mobile internet environment for all customers.
DoCoMo has already taken a variety of countermeasures to alleviate the inconveniences that spam causes customers, including taking legal action against spammers, enabling users to change their e-mail addresses via their handsets and providing customers with 400 free packets of data communications each month. Nevertheless, certain companies have become increasingly devious in their use of spam, forcing DoCoMo to implement these additional measures.
Blocking by the NTT DoCoMo System
To eliminate the heavy burden that bulk spam places on the network server of DoCoMo's i-mode mobile system, the company will begin blocking any e-mail sent to large numbers of invalid e-mail addresses. An application was submitted to the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications today and, when it is approved, the company plans to implement the new blocking measure as soon as possible.
This measure will also inhibit the ability of spammers to generate lists of valid e-mails. At present, some spammers send bulk e-mail to huge numbers of addresses generated by a computer. Valid addresses are accumulated through a process of elimination, since any invalid address that triggers a "user-unknown" message from the i-mode server is dropped from the list. With the new blocking function, however, mass spammers will no longer be able to receive these messages.
Blocking by Users
Although the above change is expected to substantially lower the number of spam sent through the DoCoMo system, it will not eliminate all unwanted e-mail. Accordingly, DoCoMo will again encourage users to change their addresses. About 90% of users have changed the default address originally assigned to them, but some people are still receiving spam, most likely because their new addresses have been placed on updated mailing lists.
DoCoMo will also strengthen ways that customers can block unwanted e-mail. Beginning next January, for example, users will be able to restrict incoming e-mail to a maximum of 10 user-designated domains.
In addition, new handset models to be marketed in the new fiscal year 2002 starting next April will enable users to check the subject line of an incoming e-mail prior to downloading. The user can choose not to receive the e-mail and simply delete it.
Other measures currently available to users include limiting incoming e-mail to user-specified addresses, changing current addresses, blocking user-specified addresses and requiring senders to include a user-supplied password.
Public Announcements
To ensure the maximum effectiveness of the above efforts, DoCoMo will encourage users to take full advantage of all available countermeasures by placing announcements in the broadcast and print media. In addition, increased information will be provided through the DoCoMo website and i-mode portal, as well as fliers enclosed with monthly bills. The company will also set up customer service desks at marketing-promotion events to answer inquiries about spam.
Legal Action
DoCoMo is strengthening its legal action against spammers. On October 29, the company won, from the Yokohama District Court, a temporal injunctive relief against a Yokohama-based company that was sending bulk spam to large numbers of invalid addresses. DoCoMo is to take similar legal measures, including suing for damages, whenever suitable. In any appropriate case, the company will not hesitate to seek similar preliminary injunctions against anyone sending bulk spam to large numbers of invalid e-mail addresses, since this can place an excessive burden on system equipment of DoCoMo.
DoCoMo will also take other steps against spammers in cooperation with other mobile telecommunications operators to ensure the convenience and usefulness of Japan's mobile internet environment for all customers.
