Article: DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES FEARED Lawsuit has direct-marketing industry worried Man fights back against the sale of his name for `junk mail' purposes; Stopping the deluge To stop junk mail and phone calls, write to the Direct Marketing Association, which represents about 3,600 companies. For mail Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9008 Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 For telemarketing Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 9014 Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735 If unwanted mailings continue after a few months, the association suggests complaining directly to companies. Consumers must register by mail for both the mail and telephone services.

Ram Avrahami believes his name is worth something, and if magazines, record clubs and credit card companies can buy and sell it, he ought to get a share of the profits.

Avrahami, a 33-year-old former marketing manager for a phone company, is suing U.S. News & World Report, arguing that the magazine had no right to sell his name and address to another company without his permission.

"It is unfair to me. Actually it is unfair to me twice," he said last week. "The magazine sells my name without asking me, and then I receive the junk mail for which I really have no use."

Representatives of the direct-marketing industry say the lawsuit is unfounded, and they fear devastating consequences if ...

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