ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, February 6, 1997             TAG: 9702060039
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL   PAGE: A-13 EDITION: METRO 

JUDGES ALLOW ACTION AGAINST JUNK E-MAIL

Computer users who hate ``junk'' e-mail have gotten a break from two federal court rulings. Cyber Promotions Inc. of Philadelphia was barred Monday from sending unsolicited e-mail advertisements - known among computer buffs as ``spamming'' - to the 5 million subscribers of CompuServe Inc. The order was issued in Columbus, Ohio.

Cyber Promotions President Sanford Wallace said Tuesday he had not sent any bulk e-mail to CompuServe customers since Graham issued a temporary restraining order in October.

Tuesday, a U.S. district judge in Philadelphia stopped Cyber Promotions from falsifying e-mail return addresses, which made it harder for America Online members to block the unsolicited messages.

``They can still receive Cyber Promotions junk e-mail if they want, but most members don't, and Cyber Promotions is now legally bound to respect their wishes.'' said AOL's associate general counsel, David Phillips.

- Associated Press

LENGTH: Short :   28 lines