Compuserve Interactive Services has had its knuckles rapped by UK advertising industry regulators over one of those free promotions that shower CDs like confetti on desks around the nation. This one trumpeted 650 hours online free of charge. However, examination of the small print showed that the 650 hours had to be taken in the first month. As complainants pointed out, even the most caffeine-addicted nerd would be hard put to surf for a solid 27 days and two hours to take full advantage of the offer. CompuServe insisted they were realistic to expect customers to use 650 hours of time in a month but this was rejected by the Advertising Standards Authority. AOL was also ticked off for a similar offer of a more modest 520 hours in a month.
