Email distribution lists

[webteam]

Hi,

Does anyone know anything about the data protection laws for the UK?
We have a client that would like us to email out a newsletter on their behalf. They will supply us with their email distribution list database.

Does anyone know if our client passing on their distribution list on to us to be able to email out on their behalf, whether this passing of the database breaks any legislations or laws regarding the data protection act in the uk?

Any help on this would be great.

Cheers

[Blue Cat Buxton]

I dont believe so - after all mailing houses do this all the time for clients. You are using your clients email list to email their content. (providing you are registered under the data protection act). You would want to get some assurances from your client that they have the right to use the list and it was lawfully collected etc.

But it will be you emailing the content so the recipients will presumably see this as an email from you, rather than from your client, which might make the campaing less effective.

The full act is here - http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/Acts1998/ukpga_19980029_en_1 and makes good bedtime reading!