US Patent 7668920 Electronic message and data tracking system

Systems and methods for tracking electronic messages and data are provided. According to one embodiment, steps for tracking an email message, or other electronic message, may include identifying an email message for tracking, associating a linking object with the tracked message, and responsive to activation of the linking object by a receiver of the electronic message, automatically submitting information regarding the electronic message to be tracked to a designated resource. According to various embodiments, a linking object may include a Universal Resource Identifier (URI), a java script, an executable file, a visual basic script (VBS), and/or the like. In accordance with one embodiment, the linking object facilitates submission of information regarding the tracked email message to an anti-spam system by a receiver of the tracked email message.