SurfWatch plays crucial role in overturning Communications Decency Act; Federal Court in Philadelphia rules the act unconstitutional, based largely on SurfWatch Internet filtering as a viable alternative.

LOS ALTOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 12, 1996--Thanks in large part to testimony concerning the effectiveness of SurfWatch Software Inc.'s Internet filtering and parental control software, a federal court in Philadelphia today ruled that the Communications Decency Act, signed into law on February 8, is an unconstitutional infringement of freedom of speech over the Internet.

Specifically, the ruling upheld a challenge of the act by the Citizens' Internet Empowerment Coalition (CIEC), who based their case largely on the availability of effective Internet filtering software such as SurfWatch.

The intent of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) was to prevent minors from inadvertently stumbling upon "indecent" or "patently offensive" material in the normal course of using the Internet and World Wide Web. The CIEC, however, claimed that government control over the Internet constituted censorship that violated the freedom of speech of all users of the Internet, and that the CDA was an unnecessary intrusion because filtering software, such as SurfWatch, already provides effective control over what minors can access.

"We are extremely gratified that the voices of reason have prevailed in this case," said Ann Duvall, president of SurfWatch Software, Inc., and one of the expert witnesses called to testify at the trial. "There's a delicate balancing act between protection of minors and the widespread use of the Internet for communication, education and commerce. I'm glad that we were able to convince the court that Internet filtering software such as SurfWatch is a far more viable and less restrictive solution than government censorship."

In particularly dramatic testimony, a Department of Justice expert witness, Howard Schmidt, who originally testified that he had been able to search for and find sexually explicit Internet sites that SurfWatch did not block, revealed under cross examination by CIEC attorney Ann Kappler that he had conducted his initial searches without SurfWatch running. In response to further questioning by Kappler, Schmidt admitted: "SurfWatch would not have allowed the (initial) search."

SurfWatch Software Provides an Alternative to Censorship

SurfWatch lets parents, teachers and employers block unwanted sexually explicit and other material from their computers' Internet access-without restricting the access rights of other Internet users. The SurfWatch software removes no material from the Internet or any server, but simply blocks it at any computer or local network where it is installed. SurfWatch screens Internet newsgroups, World Wide Web, FTP, Gopher, Chat and other services.

SurfWatch's unique Dynamic Filtering Technology not only blocks sexually explicit Internet content, but it also keeps users from initially searching for material in many of the popular Internet search engines. This powerful feature has helped to make SurfWatch the market leader in Internet filtering and parental control software.

SurfWatch software runs on both Macintosh and Windows-based personal computers and is available directly from SurfWatch, through software distributors and retail outlets, and via leading Internet service providers, including AT&T, Compuserve, Earthlink, NETCOM, and Pacific Bell Internet. As a founding member of the PICS consortium, SurfWatch Software is also supporting the development of industry-wide Internet rating systems.

About SurfWatch Software, Inc.

SurfWatch Software, Inc., based in Los Altos, California, is pioneering the development of new technologies for the Internet. SurfWatch was acquired in April 1996 by Spyglass, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPYG), a leading licensor of World-Wide Web client and server technology. SurfWatch Software, Inc. was the first company to ship Internet software for blocking access to inappropriate material and has licensed Internet filtering technology to the on-line services industry. SurfWatch Software can be reached at 415/948-9500, info(at)surfwatch.com, or via the World Wide Web at http://www.surfwatch.com. -0-

Note to editors: SurfWatch is a trademark of Spyglass, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: SurfWatch Software Inc.

Jay Friedland, 415/948-9500

Fax [phone]

jay(at)surfwatch.com

or

Davey Levy Communications,

Julie Edwards Levy, 408/461-4600

Fax [phone]

daveylevy(at)marcom.com