Österreich (AT)

Austria

VIBE!AT - Verein für Internet-Benutzer Österreichs
(Association of Austrian Internet Users)

An amendment to the Telecom-Law (TKG) outlaws UCE/UBE.

Unofficial translation:

§ 101. Unsolicited Calls

Calls - including the sending of telefaxes - for advertising purposes without the prior consent of the subscriber are not permitted. The consent of any one person authorised by the subscriber to use that subscriber's connection is of equal standing. Consent can be revoked at any time; the revocation of such consent has no effect on contractual relations with the party to whom consent had been given.

Sending of email in bulk or for advertising purposes requires the prior - revocable at any time - consent of the recipient.

...

§ 104.

(3) An infraction subject to a fine of up to 500,000 ATS (EUR 36,330 or USD $37,060) is committed by anyone who

  ...

  23. contrary to § 101 makes unsolicited calls or sends bulk or advertising email.

(1999-07-19)

Offener Brief an die Mitglieder des Justiz-Ausschusses bezüglich Umsetzung der Fernabsatzrichtlinie.

(1999-07-01)

VIBE.AT-Aktion: 7 Fragen zur Internetpolitik.

(1999-05-11)

Anfrage zu unerbetener Email-Werbung an SPÖ, ÖVP, FPÖ, Grüne und LIF.

(1999-04-21)

Unerbetene Werbemails nach Telekomgesetz nicht strafbar? (Verfahren von Fernmeldebehörde eingestellt da "E-Mail" im Gesetz nicht explizit genannt wird).

(Albert Koellner 1999-04-20)

The comments of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (Wirtschaftskammer) regarding the planned E-commerce directive (COM(1998)586) can be found at http://www.wk.or.at/rp/ecommerce-st.htm (in German). Interesting to note is Article 7 where they recommend to outlaw UCE and to require an Opt-In System.

(Albert Koellner 1999-02-22)

The Telecommunications Act of 1997 and previous case law concerning the Competition Act prohibit unsolicited telephone and telefax contact for advertising. The situation for email is not clear at present, as no lawsuit has been brought.

(Beebit 1998-06-08)