In the 1980s, the DMA tried unsuccessfully to block the Internal Revenue Service from using a private magazine subscription list to find potential tax cheats.

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Harrington then approached Grassie with a private placement document (prospectus and subscription agreement) for Sky Capital entities.

FORBES: Sky Capital Trial - Prospectus As A Marketing Tool?

As the preferred private communications service partner to Vertu, each new Vertu Ti phone comes with a complimentary 12-month subscription to Silent Circle.

FORBES: Silent Circle And Vertu Partner On $10,000 Phone

Instead of full service subscription fees, Chinese online gaming firms offer more a la carte choices such as access to private chat rooms or avatar costume selection.

CNN: In virtual world, China consumers best the U.S.