Barry Willis

In the comic books of the 1960s, "X-Ray Specs" were hot commodities in the back-page ads. The mail-order eyeware supposedly enabled users to see through walls, doors, and ordinary clothing---a compelling motivation for millions of adolescent males who saved their lunch money for weeks to buy them. In what was probably their first introduction to marketing hype, the disappointed boys discovered that the specs were a fraud.

A lawsuit filed Friday, July 31, in a Los Angeles US District Court could delay by many months <A HREF="http://www.seagram.com/">Seagram Ltd.</A>'s widely publicized takeover of <A HREF="http://www.polygram.com/">PolyGram NV</A>. The international mega-merger, valued at $10.4 billion, has ground to a halt because of a $100 million suit brought by <A HREF="http://www.image-entertainment.com/">Image Entertainment Inc.</A>, a video distributor based in Chatsworth, California.

On July 30, Thomson Multimedia announced a five-way agreement with a consortium of high-tech companies to produce its next generation of interactive TV software and hardware. <A HREF="http://microsoft.com/">Microsoft</A>, <A HREF="http://www.nec.co.jp/">NEC of Japan</A>, <A HREF="http://www.directv.com/">DirecTV</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.alcatel.com/">Alcatel SA</A> of France will each take a 7.5% stake in the company to start the new venture. The nation of France, which owns parent company Thomson SA, will hold the remaining 70% of Thomson stock.

In March, the <A HREF="http://www.fcc.gov">Federal Communications Commission</A> adopted new technical standards for so-called "V-chips"---programmable controllers that selectively block programs containing excessive violence, profanity, or sex. The regulations passed with congressional and presidential approval and were heralded as an empowering solution for working parents unable to supervise their children's viewing habits. A voluntary ratings system codes each program for objectionable material, and that code is transmitted with the program. Owners of V-chip-equipped receivers will be able to lock out any broadcast they deem unsuitable.