EXHIBIT 5.1 September 11, 1997 INDIVIDUAL, INC. 8 New England Executive Park West Burlington, MA 01803 RE: Registration Statement on Form S-3 Relating to 1,689,530 shares of Common Stock -------------------------------------------------- Dear Sir or Madam: We are counsel to INDIVIDUAL, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and have represented the Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering an aggregate of 1,639,530 outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Shares") and an aggregate of 50,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the "Warrant Shares") which are issuable upon exercise of a Common Stock Purchase Warrant (the "Warrant") more particularly described in the Registration Statement and filed as an Exhibit thereto. We have reviewed the corporate proceedings taken by the Board of Directors of the Company with respect to the authorization and issuance of the Shares and the Warrant. We have also examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise authenticated to our satisfaction, of all corporate records, documents, agreements or other instruments of the Company and have made all investigations of law and have discussed with the Company's officers all questions of fact that we have deemed necessary or appropriate. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares are legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and upon exercise of the Warrant in accordance with its terms and conditions and payment as therein provided, the Warrant Shares will have been legally issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement under the caption "Legal Matters." Very truly yours, /s/ Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP - ---------------------------------------- Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP