Category: TRUE.com

PRNEWSWIRE — Mar 31 — Hollywood couples are widely known for their failed relationships and unusually high divorce rates. Most recently, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen called it quits after three years of marriage, which was preceded by the dissolution of Hollywood's fairytale marriage between Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. Chief psychologist for TRUE.com, Dr. James Houran examined 21 celebrity couples to determine the leading factors that destroy celebrity relationships. Out of 11 characteristics of celebrity couples, Dr. Houran found three to be mathematically linked to celebrity break-ups. He then further assessed which relationships were very likely to succeed and which ones were likely to burn out. 

The full article was originally published at Compuserve, but is no longer available.

DETROIT NEWS — Mar 28 — Sandie Cornillie did a double take when she first heard about a Michigan bill that would force online dating sites to say whether criminal background checks have been conducted on their members.  "It's a very safe way of getting to know someone before we meet face to face," said Cornillie, who has tried online dating for five years. "I haven't met any rapists or any crazy people. It's kind of up to you to be careful."  Republican Sen. Alan Cropsey of DeWitt is sponsoring the bill.  "There are inherent dangers in the whole area of the Internet," he said. "Something needs to be done."  The legislation is backed by True.com, the only online dating service that performs criminal screening. Similar legislation has been proposed in California, Ohio, Virginia, Florida and Texas. Herb Vest, founder of the site, said the Michigan legislation would save lives, property and heartache. "As an industry, we owe it to our members to inform them of the potential hazards," he said.  In a debate on the floor last week, Democratic Sen. Mark Schauer said some lawmakers are wavering because users still could hide their shady pasts by using fictitious names. "That's a fundamental flaw with this bill," he said.

OPW SCOOP — Mar 23 — My source is council for a major online dating company and informs me that Michigan is moving forward full steam and is debating the legislation right now.  Two weeks ago the bill passed through the Michigan Senate judiciary committee where Match.com and Netcoalition opposed the bill.  Also, a letter from a number of companies opposing the bill was presented.  The legislation was on the floor of Michigan senate earlier today where it came up under ‘general orders,’ but is not expected to come up for vote until the week of April 11^th, after a two week recess (spring break).  If successful the bill would still need to go through the Michigan house of representatives.  If it passes there, it would go on to the Michigan governor and would pass into law as long as the governor didn’t veto it.  So, the industry has an opportunity to weigh in over the next couple of weeks.  Regarding California; the bill’s author has indicated she does not plan to pursue the legislation this year.  It’s dead in the water, for now.  My alternate source is Ravi Mehta of Capitol-Advocates, a lobbyist who has been monitoring the bill, and he affirms that the author of the California bill is not moving forward.  However, there is another bill in California (ab766 chavez) that calls for online dating sites to remove profiles when users request them to be removed.  There’s always the chance that this bill (or others) could be amended with some of the language from the background checks legislation. 

Mark Brooks: Marc has the bills published in their entirety at idate2005.com fyi

PRNEWSWIRE — Mar 16 — Broadening its services to enable advertisers to more effectively tap into the lucrative online dating market, True.com(TM) today launched a multi-faceted online advertising program with Oxygen Media as its first partner advertiser.  Through TRUE's new service, Oxygen Media can target potential consumers by demographic and geographic preferences along with income, location and hobbies. 

Mark Brooks: WebDate and Date.com offer similar.

DESERT DISPATCH — Mar 7 — "We are using True’s bill as a template," said Odisho, aide to assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills.  She said that Pavley intends to expand its provisions to non-Internet dating services as well.  Earlier this year, a North Hollywood man pleaded no contest to felony identity theft charges and authorities said he had obtained upwards of 150,000 Choicepoint (Rapsheets.com) records through a fake business.   Choicepoint had  not been forthcoming about the identity theft peril that was created when it’s database was compromised.