ANSWERS: 1
  • SPAM is known by many as the meat in a can. However, in today's electronic age, the word "spam" is also another name for junk mail or an unauthorized message sent via email. Since the word SPAM (in all uppercase letters) is a trademark, it's important to know the details of the reference mentioned here to use the word "spam" correctly and not infringe the trademark.

    Theories/Speculation

    Spam as a reference to junk mail or an unauthorized message is thought to be derived from the "Monty Python's Flying Circus" skit. The skit used the word "spam" repetitively. Early Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) had posts with the skit in its entirety. Some BBS sites contained posts with the word "spam" continuously to make unwanted user messages scroll off the screen.

    First Use

    The first commercial spam occurred in 1994 as an advertisement for Green Card Lottery processing by attorneys Laurence A. Canter and Martha Siegel. Mr. Canter was later disbarred.

    Famous Ties

    The company Hormel Foods, which makes the product SPAM used in the original Monty Python skit, formally filed a lawsuit against Spam Arrest (an email-blocking program) for using the trademark name of its product. Hormel Foods lost this lawsuit and later lawsuits in reference to the use of SPAM in conjunction with junk mail.

    Significance

    Today, Hormel Foods spells out on the company's website details regarding the use and definition of the word "spam" in reference to junk mail and how the word can legally be used without misrepresenting the Hormel Foods product.

    Accepted Term

    The word "spam" as a reference to junk mail and/or unauthorized messages can be found in various dictionaries today.

    Source:

    Hormel Foods vs. Spam Arrest legal document

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