posted 10-02-2000 05:38 PM         

China announced new regulations on Internet companies Monday that will no doubt rock the country's online industry. The laws limit foreign investment (upon which the developing companies depend heavily), mandate surveillance for "subversive" content, and threaten to close down any unlicensed firms. (source: Upside.com) http://www.upside.com/texis/mvm/news/wire?id=39d8904e15

In Brief:
- A federal law was enacted Sunday, granting electronic signatures the same standing as written signatures. Most of the states have enacted electronic signature laws, but they vary widely. The federal law will provide a baseline for all of the states, and is expected to eventually reduce online fraud.

posted 09-29-2000 05:57 PM         

After last year's Christmas e-tailing disaster (which resulted in presents landing on doorsteps well into February), the FTC find seven dot-com retailers for breaking the Mail and Telephone Order Rule. In an attempt to circumvent a similar fiasco this year, the FTC will begin investigating e-tailers' shipping policies starting in November. (source: Forbes.com) http://www.forbes.com/tool/html/00/sep/0929/feat.htm

posted 09-26-2000 06:31 PM         

A number of leading U.S. e-commerce merchants and payment processing companies (including American Express, Buy.com, and Expedia) announced Monday the formation of the Worldwide E-Commerce Fraud Prevention Network, an industry coalition aimed at reducing Internet-based fraud. The coalition intends to use the newly formed network to share fraud prevention information and practices with merchants in order to improve Web security and reduce the costs associated with fraud. (source: ecommerce times) http://www.ecommercetimes.com/news/articles2000/000926-3.shtml

Earlier this month, Lycos Asia was given access to operate as an Internet content provider in China, indicating that government may be loosening restrictions on such foreign content providers. Though this was a victory for Lycos and companies like it, there's still a long way to go. (source: Business 2.0) http://www.business2.com/content/channels/ebusiness/2000/09/26/19890

posted 09-22-2000 05:39 PM         

A market correction of hideously overvalued Internet stocks sent the Nasdaq down 37% between March 10 and May 23 of this year. But since then, the Nasdaq has been on an overall upswing. Does it make sense, then, to bargain-hunt in that beleaguered Internet sector? This article says no way. (source: Redherring.com) http://www.redherring.com/investor/2000/0922/inv-money092200.html

In an attempt to win regulatory approval for their proposed $130 billion merger, AOL and Time Warner submitted anti-trust concessions to the EU today. (source: CNNfn) http://cnnfn.cnn.com/2000/09/22/deals/time_aol

A recent study by Forrester Research indicates that the key players in online travel are no longer web portals like AOL and Yahoo, but bargain-oriented sites like Travelocity and Priceline.com. (source: Reherring.com) http://www.redherring.com/industries/2000/0922/ind-etravel092200.html

The German government has proposed a controversial fee on electronic goods, the proceeds of which would be used to reimburse musicians, artists and writers for the use of their work online. (source: TheStandard.com) http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,18782,00.html

posted 09-21-2000 05:53 PM         

Online grocers are deciding they can't make free deliveries and make a profit. But will convenience fees leave a bad taste in consumers' mouths? (source: Business 2.0) http://www.business2.com/content/channels/ebusiness/2000/09/21/19203

posted 09-19-2000 06:33 PM         

Why does AOL guard its instant messaging territory so fervently? (source: Upside) http://upside.com/Ebiz/39c289380.html

Better late than early: old economy companies are climbing over, and learning from, struggling dot-coms as they head onto the net. (source: Red Herring) http://redherring.com/industries/2000/0919/ind-shoptalk091900.html

posted 09-18-2000 01:08 PM         

There's a common belief that internet companies that make serious moves towards profitability will be able to escape the current market trend, and actually attract investors. This columnist says that just isn't the case. (source: Marketwatch) http://cbs.marketwatch.com/archive/20000914/news/current/stwatch.htx

posted 09-15-2000 05:43 PM         

In Brief:
- Striving for profitability, CMGI-owned AltaVista announced it had laid off 25% of its staff.
- Internet communications provider PSINet released financial guidance for the second half Friday, and while it said it anticipates revenue three times that of last year, the company also forecast a pullback in certain businesses.