CAN-SPAM Act

The US CAN-SPAM Act (2003) sets the rules for commercial email sent to US recipients. If you mail any of our US lists, these are the requirements you must meet.

The main requirements

• Don’t use false or misleading header information. Your From, To, Reply-To and routing details must identify who is sending.
• Don’t use deceptive subject lines. The subject must reflect the content of the message.
• Identify the message as an ad where it is commercial.
• Tell recipients where you’re located. Include a valid physical postal address.
• Tell recipients how to opt out with a clear, working unsubscribe method.
• Honour opt-out requests within 10 business days, and don’t sell or transfer those addresses.
• Monitor what others do on your behalf. You remain responsible if an agency or platform sends for you.

SMS and calls

Text messages and calls to US mobile numbers are also covered by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), which generally requires prior express consent for marketing messages. Check the rules before running SMS campaigns.

This page is a summary, not legal advice. For full details see the US Federal Trade Commission’s CAN-SPAM compliance guide.