the tweney review

CMGI building a vertically integrated online service (access + content)? Maybe this is the first step:
THE REGISTER: Lycos comes to US market with free Net access

First Union Bank wants to keep third-party online financial service companies (like Yodlee or Paytrust) from accessing customer bank account information — even when the customers specifically request it. SF Chronical writer Hal Plotkin gets mad, justifiably, at this latest example of the banking industry’s complete lack of clue:
Deposit This/On the Internet, your bank is not your friend

Big online B2B retail marketplace, backed by Oracle and Sears:
Oracle to Build Market Site for Sears and French Chain
(free registration required)
Oracle, Sears, Carrefour to team up on biz-to-biz exchange

Net security bills on the way:
Worries About Internet Crime Spark Legislative Blitz

Affiliate programs in danger? Amazon has just received a patent on the idea of having affiliate sites sell a company’s products in exchange for a sales commission.
Amazon patents affiliate programs technology

A law proposed in California’s state senate would prohibit video service providers (e.g. your cable company, or TiVo) from disclosing information about your viewing habits without your consent:
New Bill Targets TV Privacy

From the New York Times, here’s the clearest, most understandable explanation of the DoubleClick cookie controversy I’ve seen yet. It also includes useful URLs to opt out of DoubleClick’s privacy tracking and links more information on privacy protection strategems:
State of the Art: Battling Cookie Monsters

The poster child of online business-to-business trading communities, Chemdex, is aiming to expand from its current focus on chemicals and lab supplies into pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical supplies.
Chemdex forms parent to oversee its expansion (2/21/2000)

Who said EDI was dead? Telecom biggie SBC is buying Sterling Commerce, a big e-commerce software company whose revenues center on EDI technologies, for $3.9 billion.
SBC to Buy Sterling Commerce For About $3.9 Billion in Cash

A flurry of privacy bills are being introduced in Congress … is a blizzard on the way?
Government ponders Internet privacy issues