Microsoft has joined big Internet service providers, America Online, EarthLink and Yahoo against spamming. The companies announced they are filing three new antispam lawsuits protected under the CAN-SPAM federal law.

The members of the so-called Anti-Spam Alliance have filed separate lawsuits in various states, some of which seek damages and court orders in order to have spammers cease their activities and give up on their profits.

"Collectively, these four ISPs continue to change the economics of spam by identifying and targeting top alleged spammers," said Aaron Kornblum, Microsoft's internet safety enforcement attorney.