Legal Definitions - UCE

UCE stands for Unsolicited Commercial E-mail.

UCE refers to any electronic mail message that promotes a commercial product, service, or website, and is sent to a recipient who has not previously requested or given permission to receive such communications. It is commonly known as spam. These emails are typically sent in bulk and are often considered a nuisance, and in some jurisdictions, their transmission is regulated by law.

Here are some examples illustrating UCE:

• Imagine you receive an email advertising a "revolutionary new cryptocurrency investment" from a company you've never heard of, nor have you ever subscribed to financial newsletters or expressed interest in cryptocurrency to this sender. This email appears in your inbox without any prior interaction or consent from your side.

  This is an example of UCE because the email is commercial in nature (promoting an investment product) and was sent to you without your prior request or permission.

• A small business owner finds an email in their inbox from an unknown web design firm offering a "special discount on website redesign services" for their business. The business owner has never contacted this firm, visited their website, or signed up for any marketing lists related to web design services.

  This situation illustrates UCE because the email is a commercial solicitation (offering a service) that was sent without the recipient's prior consent or request.

• You open your email to find a message from an unfamiliar sender promoting a "limited-time offer for a vacation package" to a destination you've never searched for or expressed interest in. You have no existing relationship with the travel agency sending the email.

  This constitutes UCE because the email is commercial (advertising a travel product) and was sent without your prior request or permission to receive such offers.