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From: 70004.2105@compuserve.com (PMiller)
Newsgroups: alt.online-service.compuserve
Subject: CompuServe Press Release re suspended news groups
Date: Wed, 27 Dec 1995 22:43:00 GMT
Organization: CompuServe Incorporated
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:        William Giles                   Russ Robinson

                CompuServe Incorporated         CompuServe 
                (614) 538-4388                  (614) 538-4274

              

COMPUSERVE SUSPENDS ACCESS TO SPECIFIC INTERNET NEWSGROUPS

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 28, 1995 -- During the past week, CompuServe
Incorporated temporarily suspended access to more than 200 Internet
newsgroups in response to a direct mandate from the prosecutor's
office in Germany.  Each of the newsgroups that was suspended was
specifically identified to CompuServe by the German authorities as
illegal under German criminal law.  CompuServe did not select any
groups or determine the nature of the newsgroups that have been
impacted by this action.

German government officials, as part of an investigation of illegal
material on the Internet, ordered CompuServe to do what was necessary
with respect to specified newsgroups in order to comply with German
law.  German authorities are investigating newsgroups and other
Internet content that may contain child pornography, other
pornographic material illegal for to adults, as well as content that
although not illegal for adults is of such an explicit nature
that it is illegal for minors.

While access has been suspended, CompuServe continues to work with
German authorities to resolve this matter.  CompuServe cannot alter
the content on the Internet in any way and has only suspended access
to the disputed newsgroups through CIS.  The issues being investigated
in Germany, like those being addressed across the industry, need to
remain focused on the individuals and groups placing content on the
Internet.  CompuServe, as an access provider, is not responsible for
the origination or nature of content on the Internet over which it has
no creative or editorial control.

The global market is vital to CompuServe.  We currently have 500,000
members in Western Europe and anticipate doubling that number in the
next year.  As the leading global service, CompuServe must comply with
the laws of the many countries in which we operate.  However, laws in
different countries are often in conflict, and this creates new
challenges unique to the emerging online industry.  CompuServe is
investigating ways in which we can restrict user access to selected
newsgroups by geographical location.

CompuServe is an H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) company.

Founded in 1955, H&R Block is a diversified services company and the
world's leader in tax preparation and online information services.
H&R Block Tax Services handled almost one in every seven returns filed
with the Internal Revenue Service in 1995, serving 17.1 million
taxpayers in more than 9,500 offices worldwide.   CompuServe operates
the most comprehensive online network in the world, providing services
to nearly 900 corporate accounts and more than 4 million users in more
than 140 countries.
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