How is cold email different from spam?

Cold email legality depends on jurisdiction, how you send, and whether you follow applicable rules. It's legal in many contexts but heavily regulated.

In the US (CAN-SPAM): Cold commercial email is legal if you include your physical address, honor opt-outs within 10 days, don't use deceptive headers or subject lines, and clearly identify it as an advertisement. Prior consent is not required.

In the EU (GDPR): Stricter. B2B cold email may be permissible under "legitimate interest" if there's a relevant business relationship potential. But you need a lawful basis for processing their email address, must offer opt-out, and should carefully document your reasoning. B2C cold email without consent is generally not allowed.

In Canada (CASL): Generally requires consent before sending. Limited exceptions exist for B2B when there's a clear business relevance, but the bar is high.

Other countries vary. Australia, UK, Brazil, and others have their own regulations. Research applies before sending to addresses in specific jurisdictions.

Legal doesn't mean advisable. Even where cold email is legal, poor execution creates deliverability problems, damages reputation, and generates complaints. Compliance is the floor, not the ceiling.