Whether a seller or forwarder is a “sender” or “initiator” depends on the facts. So deciding if the CAN-SPAM Act applies to a commercial “forward-to-a-friend” message often depends on whether the seller has offered to pay the forwarder or give the forwarder some other benefit. For example, if the seller offers money, coupons, discounts, awards, additional entries in a sweepstakes, or the like in exchange for forwarding a message, the seller may be responsible for compliance. Or if a seller pays or give a benefit to someone in exchange for generating traffic to a website or for any form of referral, the seller is likely to have compliance obligations under the CAN-SPAM Act.
For operational guidance and structured compliance documentation tools, visit the CLIClaw Email Marketing Compliance Library.
This FAQ is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. It is intended as a starting point for understanding the issues discussed and should not be relied on as a substitute for advice from qualified legal counsel.
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