BT censures CD-ROM of phone book.

BT last week won an injunction blocking the launch of a CD-ROM version of the UK telephone directory, escalating a Europe-wide battle over this lucrative service.

The injunction prevents German company Topware from marketing or selling the product in the UK until a court hearing on 17 October. BT argued that it has copyright on the UK directory, and that the CD-ROM allows 'reverse searching' from telephone number to name and address, which has personal privacy implications.

But Topware denied the court order was valid. A spokeswoman said: 'It only came by fax, which is not enough.'

BT said industry regulator Oftel and the Data Protection Registrar were also concerned about reverse searching. A spokeswoman for Oftel admitted it could do nothing. 'We have a voluntary code of practice which Topware is not a part of. We can't enforce it,' she said.

According to BT, many customers will go ex-directory if reverse searching becomes commonplace, rendering the market 'obsolete'.

Other European telecoms companies have had similar problems with Topware.

The company is in the middle of a protracted legal struggle with Deutsche Telekom, as well as Austria PTT.

The Topware spokeswoman said: 'They say it's not legal, but that's a point of view. It's just a protest on their part; they have no rights until these issues are decided upon in court.'

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