Microsoft sues German spam outfit

The unnamed North Rhine-Westphalia-based and its managing director are accused by the software company of sending millions of emails in English to Hotmail users through a network of companies in the Ukraine and the U.S. The alleged spammer denies the complaint and blame partners for the mass of emails.

Dorothee Belz, Director legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Germany said it was not always the case that spam emails in English only originated in the U.S. or Asia and not Germany. She added the spam business is so well organized internationally spam is deliberately sent through countries where the problem is not rigorously pursued.

"The actual responsible people of the unsolicited emails frequently come however - as in this case - from western industrial nations," said Belz.

Earlier this year, Microsoft filed 117 civil lawsuits against unnamed phishers trying to steal personal and financial information from its customers.

Details of the Microsoft action can be found here (in German)