complain about spam, get sued

In a case called the first of it's kind, an Australian company that allegedly sent out unsolicited commercial email was put on an anti-spam organization's blacklist as a result of a complaint against them about spam. They are suing the individual who made the complaint.

Being placed upon a blacklist allows internet services providers who subscribe to the blacklist information to block messages sent out from a listed company's location. The Australian company,

T3 is seeking loss and damages for replacing blocked or compromised IP numbers, labor costs of technicians to establish an alternative e-mail system, the purchase of a new server computer, and loss of income it claims to have incurred over a 20-day waiting period for a new Internet connection to be installed.

Lawsuits have previously been brought by alleged spammers against companies that provide blacklisting services, but until now, not against a complaining individual.