In what clearly spells "bad news" for spammers... an internet marketing firm has been forced to pay damages for sending out unwanted e-mail adverts.

Nigel Roberts (37), a Channel Islands-based businessman, received unwanted e-mail adverts for a contract car firm and a fax broadcasting business, and decided to take action against Media Logistics UK. The result - he won. This victory is being touted as the first victory of its kind for people who are tired of junk e-mails clogging their in-boxes day-after-day.

Three years ago the EU passed an anti-spam law, the Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications, which gave individuals the right to fight spam, enabling them to claim damages. Roberts said that under the new laws, anyone who is spammed has the right to seek damages from the perpetrators of the unwanted e-mails, faxes or text messages.

Accordingly Roberts wrote to Media Logistics UK, asking for an apology and claiming damages. He also asked the company to provide details of the data obtained on him, failing which he issued a claim against it.

Media Logistics UK acknowledged the claim, but did not defend it. Finally, a Colchester County judge ruled against the company, and in favor of Roberts. In an out-of-court settlement, Media Logistics UK agreed to pay Roberts damages of £270 plus his £30 claim-fee.

Roberts believes that since he launched his action in the small-claims court, he was restricted to receiving a "limited" amount in damages.

Roberts expressed the view that his might be a tiny victory, but spammers would now realize that people don't have to put up with unwanted junk in their e-mail in-boxes.

Media Logistics UK was unavailable for comment.

Spam, estimated to account for over 65 percent of global e-mail traffic, is becoming an increasingly irritating issue to tackle And events like these might just be the starting-point in a possibly long battle against spam.