A law passed last year by the US Congress aimed at criminalising the transmission of sexually explicit material to children via the Internet is unconstitutional, according to arguments heard on 19 March in the Supreme Court. The court heard legal representations from an association of online service providers, publishers and free speech advocates that stated… Continue reading US: Internet Free Speech Case
As the formal concilation began on the nrevised EU broadcasting directive, the Dutch Presidency has proposed a compromise on the sensitive issue of pay-TV broadcasting of major events that are deemed to be so important as to require “free-to-air” broadcasting, ie via conventional, non-subscription channels. The compromise would permit individual MS to decide whether events… Continue reading EU: Council Seeks Compromise On Events
News International and BT have joined forces to work on LineOne, a mass-market Internet service.LineOne hopes to provide a fast and easy way for consumers to access the information and entertainment they want, when they want it. The service offers subscribers 24-hour news, sport, entertainment, education and shopping. In addition, there will be access to… Continue reading One Line For BT And NI
It is reported that Andrew Goulborn, formerly deputy managing director of Mediacom has been poached by Saatchi and Saatchi. Goulborn will be Saatchi and Saatchi’s first communications director. He will report directly to the company’s joint chief executive, Adam Crozier, and will head a team of forty.
Australia’s self-regulatory tripartite for the advertising industry – the Advertising Standards Council – has disbanded due to a lack of funding and bitter disputes between the advertising businesses and consumer lobby groups. There are no plans to replace it.
On 7 March representatives from the European film industry met a group of EU national experts to discuss the Audiovisual Guarantee Fund being proposed to encourage audiovisual production in Europe. This project was submitted in December 1996 to the Culture Council, and provides for the establishment of an ECU 60 million fund, to guarantee loans… Continue reading EU: Audiovisual Guarantee Fund Meeting
In the UK, the Advertising Association has produced a position paper for the Department of National Heritage on the “protection of minors and human dignity in audio visual and information services.” The paper stresses the importance of treating commercial communication issues within the context of DGXV’s Green Paper, and castigates the European Consumers’ Union (BEUC)… Continue reading UK: Protection Of Minors
The scheduled discussion in the European Commission of a new draft directive on pluralism and concentration of the media has been postponed. The commissioners may return to the subject soon, but the prospect of Commissioner Mario Monti – responsible for the Single Market – obtaining a majority for his views now seems unlikely.As it currently… Continue reading EU: Draft Directive Hits Problems
Good Health is the name of a monthly magazine to appear in the shops for the first time this September. It is aiming primarily at women and their families and aims to provide the recipe for a healthy lifestyle. Editorials will be written by health experts and professional practitioners.Jack Hay, the publisher commented: “Unlike other… Continue reading Good Health To You
