SPAM-NATION

By Paul Constable, director June 18, 2014

I make light of a serious situation. This legislation effects every artist using email to promote their business.

It is particularly important that you get consent from any contacts that have not requested to be added to your email list and have not given implied consent by contacting you with a question or making a purchase. Unfortunately, as of July 1st, sending emails asking for permission when you do not already have it will not be permitted. But you can ask for permission by email until the end of June.

To obtain express consent, you must: 

Clearly describe the purposes for requesting consent; Provide the name of the person seeking consent and identify on whose behalf consent is sought, if different; Provide contact information (mailing address and either a phone number or an email address) of those parties seeking consent; and, Indicate the recipient can unsubscribe.

After July 1st you will need to remove contacts for whom you do not have express or implied consent when sending messages that encourage participation in a “commercial activity”. This includes promotions, offers, purchasing opportunities and events, among other things. Artists should consult some of the resources that are out there to get a better sense of what kind of messages are covered by the law.

You may have implied consent to email some of your contacts – in which case there is a three year transition period in which you can still ask for express consent. For example, if someone has purchased an artwork from you in the past, you have three years to get their consent to continue emailing them. Once the transition period is over, implied consent of this kind will expire two years after it was received. There are, however, certain other exceptions artists may be able to take advantage of. LEGISLATION

The artists in Canada Newsletter has complied with these rules from day one. it is only sent out to people requesting it as it is not available in any other form. Artists, Art Galleries, Curators and art lovers are welcome to receive it for free. It is sent out once a month and is used to educate, inform, present new products, call for entries and feature our members art work and career experiences. If you want to continue receiving the newsletter please confirm your listing now or start, sign up today. Opt out anytime. NEWSLETTER

On behalf of Artists in Canada, thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Paul Constable, Director

• Posted: 2014-06-18