Wash. Rev. Code » Title 19 · Chapter 19.190
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010 (2026)

Definitions

✓ current as of May 2026
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Assist the transmission" means actions taken by a person to provide substantial assistance or support which enables any person to formulate, compose, send, originate, initiate, or transmit a commercial electronic mail message or a commercial electronic text message when the person providing the assistance knows or consciously avoids knowing that the initiator of the commercial electronic mail message or the commercial electronic text message is engaged, or intends to engage, in any practice that violates the consumer protection act. "Assist the transmission" does not include any of the following: (a) Activities of an electronic mail service provider or other entity who provides intermediary transmission service in sending or receiving electronic mail, or provides to users of electronic mail services the ability to send, receive, or compose electronic mail; or (b) activities of any entity related to the design, manufacture, or distribution of any technology, product, or component that has a commercially significant use other than to violate or circumvent this section.
(2) "Commercial electronic mail message" means an electronic mail message sent for the purpose of promoting real property, goods, or services for sale or lease. It does not mean an electronic mail message to which an interactive computer service provider has attached an advertisement in exchange for free use of an electronic mail account, when the sender has agreed to such an arrangement.
(3) "Commercial electronic text message" means an electronic text message sent to promote real property, goods, or services for sale or lease.
(4) " Electronic mail address" means a destination, commonly expressed as a string of characters, to which electronic mail may be sent or delivered.
(5) " Electronic mail message" means an electronic message sent to an electronic mail address and a reference to an internet domain, whether or not displayed, to which an electronic mail message can be sent or delivered.
(6) "Electronic text message" means a text message sent to a cellular telephone or pager equipped with short message service or any similar capability, whether the message is initiated as a short message service message or as an electronic mail message.
(7) "Initiate the transmission" refers to the action by the original sender of an electronic mail message or an electronic text message, not to the action by any intervening interactive computer service or wireless network that may handle or retransmit the message, unless such intervening interactive computer service assists in the transmission of an electronic mail message when it knows, or consciously avoids knowing, that the person initiating the transmission is engaged, or intends to engage, in any act or practice that violates the consumer protection act.
(8) "Interactive computer service" means any information service, system, or access software provider that provides or enables computer access by multiple users to a computer server, including specifically a service or system that provides access to the internet and such systems operated or services offered by libraries or educational institutions.
(9) "Internet" means collectively the myriad of computer and telecommunications facilities, including equipment and operating software, that comprise the interconnected worldwide network of networks that employ the transmission control protocol/internet protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols to such protocol, to communicate information of all kinds by wire or radio.
(10) "Internet domain name" refers to a globally unique, hierarchical reference to an internet host or service, assigned through centralized internet naming authorities, comprising a series of character strings separated by periods, with the right-most string specifying the top of the hierarchy.
(11) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity.
(12) "Personally identifying information" means an individual's: (a) Social security number; (b) driver's license number; (c) bank account number; (d) credit or debit card number; (e) personal identification number; (f) automated or electronic signature; (g) unique biometric data; (h) account passwords; or (i) any other piece of information that can be used to access an individual's financial accounts or to obtain goods or services.
(13) "Web page" means a location, with respect to the world wide web, that has a single uniform resource locator or other single location with respect to the internet.
[ 2005 c 378 s 1; 2003 c 137 s 2; 1999 c 289 s 1; 1998 c 149 s 2.]

Notes:

Severability—2005 c 378: See note following RCW 19.190.080.
Intent—2003 c 137: See note following RCW 19.190.060.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 20 cases (11 in the last 5 years), 2001–2025 · leading case: Gordon v. Virtumundo, Inc., 575 F.3d 1040 (9th Cir. 2009).
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Gordon v. Virtumundo, Inc., 575 F.3d 1040 (9th Cir. 2009). · cites it 6× “, the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act ("CEMA"), Wash. Rev.Code § 19.190.010 et seq., the Washington Consumer Protection Act ("CPA"), Wash.”
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). · cites it 3× “” RCW 19.190.010(2). The term “spam” refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or “ ‘junk’ e-mail”), which “can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or *827 noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). · cites it 3× “" RCW 19.190.010(2). The term "spam" refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or "`junk' e-mail"), which "can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
MARYCLE, LLC. v. First Choice Internet, Inc., 890 A.2d 818 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 2006). “See Wash. Rev. Code, § 19.190.010 et seq. The court applied the Pike test diligently, first deciding that the Washington UCE act was not facially discriminatory because it “applies evenhandedly to instate and out-of-state spammers” in declaring that “no person” can transmit…”
Hickey v. Voxernet LLC, 887 F. Supp. 2d 1125 (W.D. Wash. 2012). “” RCW 19.190.010(3). The definition of sale includes “a price in money paid or promised.”
Moore v. Robinhood Fin. LLC (W.D. Wash. 2022). · cites it 20× “13 RCW § 19.190.010(1). The statute further defines “commercial electronic text message” to mean 14 “an electronic text message sent to promote real property, goods, or services for sale or lease.”
Michael Aaland, V. Crst Home Solutions, Llc, Et Ano. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 20× “” RCW 19.190.010(2). 9 86708-3-I/10 RCW 19.”
Gragg v. Orange Cab Co., 145 F. Supp. 3d 1046 (W.D. Wash. 2015). “” RCW 19.190.010(5). For all of the reasons stated in the “Order Granting in Part Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and Granting Leave to Amend” (Dkt.”
Bottoms v. Block Inc (W.D. Wash. 2024). · cites it 6× “) Regardless, Bottoms alleges Block violated the 22 Washington Consumer Electronic Mail Act (“CEMA”), RCW 19.190.010 et seq., which makes it 23 illegal for a person to “initiate or assist in the transmission of an electronic commercial text message to a 24 telephone number…”
Brown v. Old Navy, LLC (Wash. 2025). · cites it 6× “” RCW 19.190.010(2). The definition of the term commercial electronic mail message and 1 No person may initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission, or assist the transmission, of a commercial electronic mail message from a computer located in…”
Frank v. Cannabis & Glass LLC (E.D. Wash. 2019). · cites it 2× “1 Washington’s Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) 2 The Washington legislature originally enacted the Commercial Electronic 3 Mail Act (“CEMA”), Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010 et seq., to deal with 4 unwanted commercial email messages.”
Gordon v. Robinhood Fin. LLC (E.D. Wash. 2020). · cites it 2× “19 20 RCW 19.190.010(1). 1 “Initiate the transmission” refers to the action by the original sender of an electronic mail message or an electronic text message, not to the action by 2 any intervening interactive computer service or wireless network that may handle or retransmit…”
Show all 20 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(1) — 5 cases
Moore v. Robinhood Fin. LLC (W.D. Wash. 2022). “13 RCW § 19.190.010(1). The statute further defines “commercial electronic text message” to mean 14 “an electronic text message sent to promote real property, goods, or services for sale or lease.”
Bottoms v. Block Inc (W.D. Wash. 2024). “) Regardless, Bottoms alleges Block violated the 22 Washington Consumer Electronic Mail Act (“CEMA”), RCW 19.190.010 et seq., which makes it 23 illegal for a person to “initiate or assist in the transmission of an electronic commercial text message to a 24 telephone number…”
Gordon v. Robinhood Fin. LLC (E.D. Wash. 2020). “19 20 RCW 19.190.010(1). 1 “Initiate the transmission” refers to the action by the original sender of an electronic mail message or an electronic text message, not to the action by 2 any intervening interactive computer service or wireless network that may handle or retransmit…”
Dawson v. Porch.com Inc (W.D. Wash. 2024).
Jensen v. Capital One Fin. Corp. (W.D. Wash. 2025).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(11) — 1 case
Gordon v. Robinhood Fin. LLC (E.D. Wash. 2021).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(2) — 4 cases
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). “” RCW 19.190.010(2). The term “spam” refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or “ ‘junk’ e-mail”), which “can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or *827 noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). “" RCW 19.190.010(2). The term "spam" refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or "`junk' e-mail"), which "can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
Brown v. Old Navy, LLC (Wash. 2025). “” RCW 19.190.010(2). The definition of the term commercial electronic mail message and 1 No person may initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission, or assist the transmission, of a commercial electronic mail message from a computer located in…”
Michael Aaland, V. Crst Home Solutions, Llc, Et Ano. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 19.190.010(2). 9 86708-3-I/10 RCW 19.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(3) — 6 cases
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). “” RCW 19.190.010(2). The term “spam” refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or “ ‘junk’ e-mail”), which “can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or *827 noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). “" RCW 19.190.010(2). The term "spam" refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or "`junk' e-mail"), which "can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
Hickey v. Voxernet LLC, 887 F. Supp. 2d 1125 (W.D. Wash. 2012). “” RCW 19.190.010(3). The definition of sale includes “a price in money paid or promised.”
Michael Aaland, V. Crst Home Solutions, Llc, Et Ano. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 19.190.010(2). 9 86708-3-I/10 RCW 19.”
Moore v. Robinhood Fin. LLC (W.D. Wash. 2022). “13 RCW § 19.190.010(1). The statute further defines “commercial electronic text message” to mean 14 “an electronic text message sent to promote real property, goods, or services for sale or lease.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(5) — 3 cases
Gragg v. Orange Cab Co., 145 F. Supp. 3d 1046 (W.D. Wash. 2015). “” RCW 19.190.010(5). For all of the reasons stated in the “Order Granting in Part Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings and Granting Leave to Amend” (Dkt.”
Bottoms v. Block Inc (W.D. Wash. 2024). “) Regardless, Bottoms alleges Block violated the 22 Washington Consumer Electronic Mail Act (“CEMA”), RCW 19.190.010 et seq., which makes it 23 illegal for a person to “initiate or assist in the transmission of an electronic commercial text message to a 24 telephone number…”
Dawson v. Porch.com Inc (W.D. Wash. 2024).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(6) — 3 cases
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). “” RCW 19.190.010(2). The term “spam” refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or “ ‘junk’ e-mail”), which “can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or *827 noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
State v. Heckel, 24 P.3d 404 (Wash. 2001). “" RCW 19.190.010(2). The term "spam" refers broadly to unsolicited bulk e-mail (or "`junk' e-mail"), which "can be either commercial (such as an advertisement) or noncommercial (such as a joke or chain letter).”
Michael Aaland, V. Crst Home Solutions, Llc, Et Ano. (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “” RCW 19.190.010(2). 9 86708-3-I/10 RCW 19.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(7) — 1 case
Gordon v. Robinhood Fin. LLC (E.D. Wash. 2020). “19 20 RCW 19.190.010(1). 1 “Initiate the transmission” refers to the action by the original sender of an electronic mail message or an electronic text message, not to the action by 2 any intervening interactive computer service or wireless network that may handle or retransmit…”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 19.190.010(8) — 1 case
Gordon v. Virtumundo, Inc., 575 F.3d 1040 (9th Cir. 2009). “, the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act ("CEMA"), Wash. Rev.Code § 19.190.010 et seq., the Washington Consumer Protection Act ("CPA"), Wash.”
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