3 from Edupage

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

AMEX GOES ONLINE
American Express has joined the crowd, teaming up with America Online to
offer electronic financial services. The new service will allow subscribers
to research travel information and make reservations online, but also will
enable them to pay bills and receive detailed billing histories which may
then be downloaded directly into the PC's financial management software.
American Express joins Visa International and MasterCard, which also have
recently formed online alliances. (Wall Street Journal 1/30/95 A3)


PHONE INDUSTRY WINS RIGHT TO OFFER VIDEO SERVICES
A federal court has declared the 1984 law that restricts telephone
companies from providing cable services an unconstitutional abridgment of
free speech. The lawsuit was brought by the United States Telephone
Association, which represents more than 1,000 small and mid-sized local
phone companies. (Investor's Business Daily 1/30/95 A30)


ONLINE LAWSUITS MIGHT CHOKE FREE SPEECH
The proliferation of lawsuits resulting from alleged libel and defamation
online will only serve to constrict one of the last frontiers for really
free speech, and some experts feel existing laws are outdated for today's
direct, real-time communications. "The law is designed to protect people
who have no ability to reply," says the general counsel for America Online.
"But the rules do change in cyberspace," where everyone can respond.
(Business Week 2/6/95 p.70)