"For spam email if you threaten to take them to court they stop sending...usually"
That idea is silly to boot and ain't gonna work.
Bout 75% of the time the e-mail addresses are spoofed (unless it is "legal" SPAM, like advertisements you might get from Yahoo).
If they do have a "remove me from list", or "complaint" link, or address of some kind, bout 80% of the time the link is invalid, and if something does get sent out, about 80% of the time no one checks that stuff. In fact going to a supposed remove link could be a link to sign you up on another SPAM list.
Conversion
75% = 3/4
80% = 4/5
There are mailing SPAM list, domain shoots, all kinds of things.
I don't get much SPAM. I don't give my e-mail address out to companies very often, and if I do, it is usually my hotmail address (I save my broadband accounts for important stuff like talking with friends)
I have my junk filter on low.
To me pop-up ads are much more annoying. SPAM you just hit yer delete key, or a click of the mouse. Pops happen when you don't expect them, you have to switch windows, close them, and look at them, even if only momentarily while you try to close it (you can delete a mail message before viewing it).