Why is junk mail called spam?
SPAM is known by many as the meat in a can. However, in today’s electronic age, the word “spam” is also another name for junk mail or an unauthorized message sent via email. Since the word SPAM (in all uppercase letters) is a trademark, it’s important to know the details of the reference mentioned here to use the word “spam” correctly and not infringe the trademark.Theories/SpeculationSpam as a reference to junk mail or an unauthorized message is thought to be derived from the “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” skit. The skit used the word “spam” repetitively. Early Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) had posts with the skit in its entirety. Some BBS sites contained posts with the word “spam” continuously to make unwanted user messages scroll off the screen.First UseThe first commercial spam occurred in 1994 as an advertisement for Green Card Lottery processing by attorneys Laurence A. Canter and Martha Siegel. Mr. Canter was later disbarred.Famous TiesThe company Hormel Foods, which makes the pr
