<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1


                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT"), dated as of December
29, 2000, by and among The viaLink Company, a Delaware corporation, with its
principal executive offices located at 13155 Noel Road, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas
75240 (the "COMPANY"), and each of the undersigned (together with their
respective affiliates and any assignee or transferee of all of their respective
rights hereunder, the "INITIAL INVESTORS").

         WHEREAS:

         A. In connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement by and among
the parties hereto of even date herewith (the "SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT"),
the Company has agreed, upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained
therein, to issue and sell to the Initial Investors Three Hundred Thirty-Three
Thousand, Three Hundred Thirty-Three (333,333) shares of the Company's common
stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "COMMON STOCK");

         B. To induce the Initial Investors to execute and deliver the
Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide certain
registration rights under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations thereunder, or any similar successor statute (collectively, the
"1933 ACT"), and applicable state securities laws.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each
of the Initial Investors hereby agree as follows:


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         1. DEFINITIONS.

            (a) As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

                (i) "INVESTORS" means the Initial Investors and any transferee
or assignee who agrees to become bound by the provisions of this Agreement in
accordance with Section 9 hereof.

                (ii) "REGISTER," "REGISTERED," and "REGISTRATION" refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a Registration Statement or
Statements in compliance with the 1933 Act and pursuant to Rule 415 under the
1933 Act or any successor rule providing for offering securities on a continuous
basis ("RULE 415"), and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such
Registration Statement by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC").

                (iii) "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means: (A) the Common Shares
issued pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement; and (B) any shares of
capital stock issued or issuable as a dividend on or in exchange for or
otherwise with respect to any of the foregoing.

                (iv) "REGISTRATION STATEMENT(S)" means a registration
statement(s) of the Company under the 1933 Act.

            (b) Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Securities Purchase
Agreement.

         2. REGISTRATION.

            (a) MANDATORY REGISTRATION. The Company shall prepare and, as soon
as practicable after the date of the closing under the Securities Purchase
Agreement (the "CLOSING DATE"), file with the SEC a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 covering the resale of the Registrable Securities, which Registration
Statement, to the extent allowable under the 1933 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (including Rule 416), shall state that such
Registration Statement also covers such indeterminate number of additional
shares of Common Stock as may become issuable as a result of stock splits, stock
dividends or similar transactions. The number of shares of Common Stock
initially included in such Registration Statement shall be no less than the sum
of the aggregate number of Common Shares issued pursuant to the Securities
Purchase Agreement.

            (b) UNDERWRITTEN OFFERING. If any offering pursuant to a
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof involves an underwritten
offering, the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities subject to such underwritten offering, with the consent of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors, shall have the right to select
one legal counsel and an investment banker or bankers and manager or managers to
administer the



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offering, which investment banker or bankers or manager or managers shall be
reasonably satisfactory to the Company. In the event that any Investors elect
not to participate in such underwritten offering, the Registration Statement
covering all of the Registrable Securities shall contain appropriate plans of
distribution reasonably satisfactory to the Investors participating in such
underwritten offering and the Investors electing not to participate in such
underwritten offering (including, without limitation, the ability of
non-participating Investors to sell from time to time at any time during the
effectiveness of such Registration Statement).

            (c) PAYMENTS BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall use its best efforts
to obtain effectiveness of the Registration Statement as soon as practicable,
but in any event not later than the one hundred twentieth (120th) day after the
Closing Date (the "REGISTRATION DEADLINE"). If (i) the Registration Statement
covering the Registrable Securities required to be filed by the Company pursuant
to Section 2(a) hereof is not declared effective by the SEC by the Registration
Deadline, or (ii) after the Registration Statement has been declared effective
by the SEC, sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant
to the Registration Statement, or (iii) the Common Stock is not listed or
included for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market (the "NNM"), the Nasdaq
SmallCap Market (the "NASDAQ SMALLCAP"), the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE") or the American Stock Exchange (the "AMEX") after being so listed or
included for quotation, then the Company will make payments to the Investors in
such amounts and at such times as shall be determined pursuant to this Section
2(c) as partial relief for the damages to the Investors by reason of any such
delay in or reduction of their ability to sell the Registrable Securities (which
remedy shall not be exclusive of any other remedies available at law or in
equity). The Company shall pay to each holder of Registrable Securities an
amount equal to the aggregate purchase price paid for the Common Shares by such
holder pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement ("AGGREGATE PURCHASE
PRICE"), multiplied by 0.0125, multiplied by the sum of: (i) the number of
months (prorated for partial months) after the Registration Deadline and prior
to the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC;
provided, however, that there shall be excluded from such period any delays
which are solely attributable to changes required by the Investors in the
Registration Statement with respect to information relating to the Investors,
including, without limitation, changes to the plan of distribution, or to the
failure of the Investors to conduct their review of the Registration Statement
pursuant to Section 3(h) below in a reasonably prompt manner; (ii) the number of
months (prorated for partial months) during the Registration Period (as defined
below) that sales of all of the Registrable Securities cannot be made pursuant
to the Registration Statement after the Registration Statement has been declared
effective (including, without limitation, when sales cannot be made by reason of
the Company's failure to properly supplement or amend the prospectus included
therein in accordance with the terms of this Agreement (including Section 3(b)
hereof or otherwise), but excluding any days during an Allowed Delay (as defined
in Section 3(f))); and (iii) the number of months (prorated for partial months)
that the Common Stock is not listed or included for quotation on the NNM, Nasdaq
SmallCap, NYSE or AMEX or that trading thereon is halted after the Registration
Statement has been declared effective. (For example, if the Registration
Statement becomes effective one (1) month after the Registration Deadline, the
Company would pay $12,500 for each $1,000,000 of Aggregate Purchase Price. If
thereafter, sales could not be made pursuant to the Registration Statement for
an additional



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period of one (1) month, the Company would pay an additional $12,500 for each
$1,000,000 of Aggregate Purchase Price.) Such amounts shall be paid in cash
within ten (10) days after the end of each period that gives rise to such
obligation, provided that, if any such period extends for more than thirty (30)
days, interim payments shall be made for each such thirty (30) day period.

            (d) PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. Subject to the last sentence of this
Section 2(d), if at any time prior to the expiration of the Registration Period
(as hereinafter defined) the Company shall determine to file with the SEC a
Registration Statement relating to an offering for its own account or the
account of others under the 1933 Act of any of its equity securities (other than
on Form S-4 or Form S-8 or their then equivalents relating to equity securities
to be issued solely in connection with any acquisition of any entity or business
or equity securities issuable in connection with stock option or other employee
benefit plans), the Company shall send to each Investor who is entitled to
registration rights under this Section 2(d) written notice of such determination
and, if within fifteen (15) days after the effective date of such notice, such
Investor shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
Registration Statement all or any part of the Registrable Securities such
Investor requests to be registered, except that if, in connection with any
underwritten public offering for the account of the Company the managing
underwriter(s) thereof shall impose a limitation on the number of shares of
Common Stock which may be included in the Registration Statement because, in
such underwriter(s)' judgment, marketing or other factors dictate such
limitation is necessary to facilitate public distribution, then the Company
shall be obligated to include in such Registration Statement only such limited
portion of the Registrable Securities with respect to which such Investor has
requested inclusion hereunder as the underwriter shall permit. Any exclusion of
Registrable Securities shall be made pro rata among the Investors seeking to
include Registrable Securities in proportion to the number of Registrable
Securities sought to be included by such Investors; provided, however, that the
Company shall not exclude any Registrable Securities unless the Company has
first excluded all outstanding securities, the holders of which are not entitled
by contract to inclusion of such securities in such Registration Statement or
are not entitled to pro rata inclusion with the Registrable Securities; and
provided, further, however, that, after giving effect to the immediately
preceding proviso, any exclusion of Registrable Securities shall be made pro
rata with holders of other securities having the contractual right to include
such securities in the Registration Statement other than holders of securities
entitled to inclusion of their securities in such Registration Statement by
reason of demand registration rights. No right to registration of Registrable
Securities under this Section 2(d) shall be construed to limit any registration
required under Section 2(a) hereof. If an offering in connection with which an
Investor is entitled to registration under this Section 2(d) is an underwritten
offering, then each Investor whose Registrable Securities are included in such
Registration Statement shall, unless otherwise agreed by the Company, offer and
sell such Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering using the same
underwriter or underwriters and, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, on
the same terms and conditions as other shares of Common Stock included in such
underwritten offering. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth
herein, the registration rights of the Investors pursuant to this Section 2(d)
shall only be available in the event the Company fails to timely file, obtain
effectiveness or maintain effectiveness of any Registration Statement to be
filed pursuant to Section 2(a) in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.



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            (e) ELIGIBILITY FOR FORM S-3. The Company represents and warrants
that it meets the registrant eligibility and transaction requirements for the
use of Form S-3 for registration of the sale by the Initial Investors and any
other Investors of the Registrable Securities and the Company shall file all
reports required to be filed by the Company with the SEC in a timely manner so
as to maintain such eligibility for the use of Form S-3.

         3. OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY.

            In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities,
the Company shall have the following obligations:

            (a) The Company shall prepare promptly, and file with the SEC as
soon as practicable after the Closing Date, a Registration Statement with
respect to the number of Registrable Securities provided in Section 2(a), and
thereafter use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement relating to
Registrable Securities to become effective as soon as possible after such filing
(but in no event later than the Registration Deadline), and keep the
Registration Statement effective pursuant to Rule 415 at all times until such
date as is the earlier of (i) the date on which all of the Registrable
Securities have been sold and (ii) the date on which the Registrable Securities
(in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Initial Investors) may be
immediately sold to the public without registration or restriction (including
without limitation as to volume by each holder thereof) under the 1933 Act (the
"REGISTRATION PERIOD"), which Registration Statement (including any amendments
or supplements thereto and prospectuses contained therein) shall not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein, or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading.

            (b) The Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) and supplements to the Registration
Statements and the prospectus used in connection with the Registration
Statements as may be necessary to keep the Registration Statements effective at
all times during the Registration Period, and, during such period, comply with
the provisions of the 1933 Act with respect to the disposition of all
Registrable Securities of the Company covered by the Registration Statements
until such time as all of such Registrable Securities have been disposed of in
accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers
thereof as set forth in the Registration Statements. In the event that on any
trading day (the "REGISTRATION TRIGGER DATE") the number of shares available
under the Registration Statement filed pursuant to this Agreement is
insufficient to cover all of the Registrable Securities issued or issuable
pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company shall amend the
Registration Statement, or file a new Registration Statement (on the short form
available therefore, if applicable), or both, so as to cover all of the
Registrable Securities so issued or issuable pursuant to the Securities Purchase
Agreement as of the Registration Trigger Date, in each case, as soon as
practicable, but in any event within twenty (20) business days after the
necessity therefor arises (based on the market price of the Common Stock and
other relevant factors on which the Company reasonably elects to rely). The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause such amendment and/or new



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Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable following the
filing thereof, but in any event within sixty (60) days of the Registration
Trigger Date. The provisions of Section 2(c) above shall be applicable with
respect to the Company's obligations under this Section 3(b).

            (c) The Company shall furnish to each Investor whose Registrable
Securities are included in a Registration Statement and its legal counsel (i)
promptly after the same is prepared and publicly distributed, filed with the
SEC, or received by the Company, one copy of each Registration Statement and any
amendment thereto, each preliminary prospectus and prospectus and each amendment
or supplement thereto, and, in the case of the Registration Statement referred
to in Section 2(a), each letter written by or on behalf of the Company to the
SEC or the staff of the SEC, and each item of correspondence from the SEC or the
staff of the SEC, in each case relating to such Registration Statement (other
than any portion of any thereof which contains information for which the Company
has sought confidential treatment), and (ii) such number of copies of a
prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto and such other documents as such Investor may reasonably
request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities
owned by such Investor. The Company will immediately notify each Investor by
facsimile of the effectiveness of each Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment. The Company will promptly respond to any and all
comments received from the SEC, with a view towards causing each Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto to be declared effective by the SEC as soon
as practicable and shall file an acceleration request as soon as practicable
following the resolution or clearance of all SEC comments or, if applicable,
following notification by the SEC that any such Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto will not be subject to review.

            (d) The Company shall use reasonable efforts to (i) register and
qualify the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statements under
such other securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions in the United
States as the Investors who hold a majority in interest of the Registrable
Securities being offered reasonably request, (ii) prepare and file in those
jurisdictions such amendments (including post-effective amendments) and
supplements to such registrations and qualifications as may be necessary to
maintain the effectiveness thereof during the Registration Period, (iii) take
such other actions as may be necessary to maintain such registrations and
qualifications in effect at all times during the Registration Period, and (iv)
take all other actions reasonably necessary or advisable to qualify the
Registrable Securities for sale in such jurisdictions; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition
thereto to (a) qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it would not
otherwise be required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (b) subject itself
to general taxation in any such jurisdiction, (c) file a general consent to
service of process in any such jurisdiction, (d) provide any undertakings that
cause the Company undue expense or burden, or (e) make any change in its charter
or bylaws, which in each case the Board of Directors of the Company determines
to be contrary to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

            (e) In the event Investors who hold a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being offered in the offering (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of



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the Initial Investors) select underwriters for the offering, the Company shall
enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting agreement, in usual
and customary form, including, without limitation, customary indemnification and
contribution obligations, with the underwriters of such offering.

            (f) As promptly as practicable after becoming aware of such event,
the Company shall notify each Investor of the happening of any event, of which
the Company has knowledge, as a result of which the prospectus included in any
Registration Statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which such statements were made, not misleading, and use its best efforts
promptly to prepare a supplement or amendment to any Registration Statement to
correct such untrue statement or omission, and deliver such number of copies of
such supplement or amendment to each Investor as such Investor may reasonably
request; provided that, for not more than ten (10) consecutive calendar days (or
a total of not more than thirty (30) calendar days in any twelve (12) month
period), the Company may delay the disclosure of material non-public information
concerning the Company (as well as prospectus or Registration Statement
updating) the disclosure of which at the time is not, in the good faith opinion
of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (an "ALLOWED DELAY");
provided, further, that the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Investors in
writing of the existence of (but in no event, without the prior written consent
of an Investor, shall the Company disclose to such Investor any of the facts or
circumstances regarding) material non-public information giving rise to an
Allowed Delay and (ii) advise the Investors in writing to cease all sales under
such Registration Statement until the end of the Allowed Delay. Upon expiration
of the Allowed Delay, the Company shall again be bound by the first sentence of
this Section 3(f) with respect to the information giving rise thereto.

            (g) The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance
of any stop order or other suspension of effectiveness of any Registration
Statement, and, if such an order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of such
order at the earliest possible moment and to notify each Investor who holds
Registrable Securities being sold (or, in the event of an underwritten offering,
the managing underwriters) of the issuance of such order and the resolution
thereof.

            (h) The Company shall permit a single firm of counsel designated by
the Initial Investors to review such Registration Statement and all amendments
and supplements thereto (as well as all requests for acceleration or
effectiveness thereof) a reasonable period of time (but not more than three (3)
business days) prior to their filing with the SEC, and not file any document in
a form to which such counsel reasonably objects and will not request
acceleration of such Registration Statement without prior notice to such
counsel. The sections of such Registration Statement (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) covering information with respect to the Investors, the
Investor's beneficial ownership of securities of the Company or the Investors
intended method of disposition of Registrable Securities shall conform to the
information provided to the Company by each of the Investors.



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            (i) The Company shall make generally available (including through
the SEC's website) to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later
than ninety (90) days after the close of the period covered thereby, an earnings
statement (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act)
covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of the
Company's fiscal quarter next following the effective date of the Registration
Statement.

            (j) In the event of an underwritten offering, at the request of any
Investor, the Company shall furnish, on the date that Registrable Securities are
delivered to an underwriter for sale in connection with any Registration
Statement, a signed counterpart of (i) an opinion, dated as of such date, from
counsel representing the Company acceptable to such underwriter for purposes of
such Registration Statement, in form, scope and substance as is customarily
given in an underwritten public offering and (ii) a letter, dated such date,
from the Company's independent certified public accountants in form and
substance as is customarily given by independent certified public accountants to
underwriters in an underwritten public offering.

            (k) The Company shall make available for inspection by (i) any
Investor, (ii) any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to a
Registration Statement, (iii) one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants
or other agents retained by the Initial Investors, (iv) one firm of attorneys
and one firm of accountants or other agents retained by all other Investors, and
(v) one firm of attorneys retained by all such underwriters (collectively, the
"INSPECTORS") all pertinent financial and other records, and pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company (collectively, the "RECORDS"), as shall
be reasonably deemed necessary by each Inspector to enable each Inspector to
exercise its due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company's officers,
directors and employees to supply all information which any Inspector may
reasonably request for purposes of such due diligence; provided, however, that
each Inspector shall hold in confidence and shall not make any disclosure
(except to an Investor) of any Record or other information which the Company
determines in good faith to be confidential, and of which determination the
Inspectors are so notified, unless (a) the disclosure of such Records is
necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration
Statement, (b) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or
other order from a court or government body of competent jurisdiction, or (c)
the information in such Records has been made generally available to the public
other than by disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The
Company shall not be required to disclose any confidential information in such
Records to any Inspector until and unless such Inspector shall have entered into
confidentiality agreements (in form and substance satisfactory to the Company)
with the Company with respect thereto, substantially in the form of this Section
3(k). Each Investor agrees that it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such
Records is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to the Company and allow
the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action to prevent
disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order for, the Records deemed
confidential. Nothing herein (or in any other confidentiality agreement between
the Company



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and any Investor) shall be deemed to limit the Investor's ability to sell
Registrable Securities in a manner which is otherwise consistent with applicable
laws and regulations.

            (l) The Company shall hold in confidence and not make any disclosure
of information concerning an Investor provided to the Company unless (i)
disclosure of such information is necessary to comply with federal or state
securities laws, (ii) the disclosure of such information is necessary to avoid
or correct a misstatement or omission in any Registration Statement, (iii) the
release of such information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order
from a court or governmental body of competent jurisdiction, or (iv) such
information has been made generally available to the public other than by
disclosure in violation of this or any other agreement. The Company agrees that
it shall, upon learning that disclosure of such information concerning an
Investor is sought in or by a court or governmental body of competent
jurisdiction or through other means, give prompt notice to such Investor prior
to making such disclosure, and allow the Investor, at its expense, to undertake
appropriate action to prevent disclosure of, or to obtain a protective order
for, such information.

            (m) The Company shall (i) cause all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement to be listed on each national securities
exchange on which securities of the same class or series issued by the Company
are then listed, if any, if the listing of such Registrable Securities is then
permitted under the rules of such exchange, or (ii) to the extent the securities
of the same class or series are not then listed on a national securities
exchange, secure the designation and quotation of all the Registrable Securities
covered by the Registration Statement on the NNM or, if not eligible for the
NNM, on the Nasdaq SmallCap and, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, to arrange for at least two market makers to register with the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") as such with respect
to such Registrable Securities.

            (n) The Company shall provide a transfer agent and registrar, which
may be a single entity, for the Registrable Securities not later than the
effective date of the Registration Statement.

            (o) The Company shall cooperate with the Investors who hold
Registrable Securities being offered and the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
certificates (not bearing any restrictive legends) representing Registrable
Securities to be offered pursuant to such Registration Statement and enable such
certificates to be in such denominations or amounts, as the case may be, as the
managing underwriter or underwriters, if any, or the Investors may reasonably
request and registered in such names as the managing underwriter or
underwriters, if any, or the Investors may request, and, within three (3)
business days after a Registration Statement which includes Registrable
Securities is ordered effective by the SEC, the Company shall deliver, and shall
cause legal counsel selected by the Company to deliver, to the transfer agent
for the Registrable Securities (with copies to the Investors whose Registrable
Securities are included in such Registration Statement) an instruction in the
form attached hereto as EXHIBIT 1 and an opinion of such counsel in the form
attached hereto as EXHIBIT 2.



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            (p) At the request of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities, the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC such
amendments (including post-effective amendments) and supplements to a
Registration Statement and any prospectus used in connection with the
Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to change the plan of
distribution set forth in such Registration Statement.

            (q) Except for the holders listed in SCHEDULE 3(Q), the Company
shall not, and shall not agree to, allow the holders of any securities of the
Company to include any of their securities in any Registration Statement under
Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b)
hereof without the consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities. In addition, the Company shall not offer any securities
for its own account or the account of others in any Registration Statement under
Section 2(a) hereof or any amendment or supplement thereto under Section 3(b)
hereof without the consent of the holders of a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities.

            (r) The Company shall take all other reasonable actions necessary to
expedite and facilitate disposition by the Investors of Registrable Securities
pursuant to a Registration Statement.

            (s) The Company shall comply with all applicable laws related to a
Registration Statement and offering and sale of securities and all applicable
rules and regulations of governmental authorities in connection therewith
(including without limitation the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated by the SEC).

         4. OBLIGATIONS OF THE INVESTORS.

            In connection with the registration of the Registrable Securities,
the Investors shall have the following obligations:

            (a) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the
Company to complete the registration pursuant to this Agreement with respect to
the Registrable Securities of a particular Investor that such Investor shall
furnish to the Company such information regarding itself, the Registrable
Securities held by it and the intended method of disposition of the Registrable
Securities held by it as shall be reasonably required to effect the registration
of such Registrable Securities and shall execute such documents in connection
with such registration as the Company may reasonably request. At least five (5)
business days prior to the first anticipated filing date of the Registration
Statement, the Company shall notify each Investor of the information the Company
requires from each such Investor.

            (b) Each Investor, by such Investor's acceptance of the Registrable
Securities, agrees to cooperate with the Company as reasonably requested by the
Company in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statements hereunder, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing
of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from the Registration Statements.



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            (c) In the event Investors holding a majority-in-interest of the
Registrable Securities being registered (with the approval of the Initial
Investors) determine to engage the services of an underwriter, each Investor
agrees to enter into and perform such Investor's obligations under an
underwriting agreement, in usual and customary form, including, without
limitation, customary indemnification and contribution obligations, with the
managing underwriter of such offering and take such other actions as are
reasonably required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the
Registrable Securities, unless such Investor has notified the Company in writing
of such Investor's election to exclude all of such Investor's Registrable
Securities from such Registration Statement.

            (d) Each Investor agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the
Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(f) or
3(g), such Investor will immediately discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such Investor's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or
amended prospectus contemplated by Section 3(f) or 3(g) and, if so directed by
the Company, such Investor shall deliver to the Company (at the expense of the
Company) or destroy (and deliver to the Company a certificate of destruction)
all copies in such Investor's possession, of the prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.

            (e) No Investor may participate in any underwritten registration
hereunder unless such Investor (i) agrees to sell such Investor's Registrable
Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements in usual and
customary form entered into by the Company, (ii) completes and executes all
questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and
other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting
arrangements, and (iii) agrees to pay its pro rata share of all underwriting
discounts and commissions and any expenses in excess of those payable by the
Company pursuant to Section 5 below.

         5. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.

            All expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions,
incurred in connection with registrations, filings or qualifications pursuant to
Sections 2 and 3, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and
qualification fees, printers and accounting fees and the fees and disbursements
of counsel for the Company, shall be borne by the Company.

         6. INDEMNIFICATION.

            In the event any Registrable Securities are included in a
Registration Statement under this Agreement:

            (a) To the extent permitted by law, the Company will indemnify, hold
harmless and defend (i) each Investor who holds such Registrable Securities,
(ii) the directors,



                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

officers, partners, employees, agents and each person who controls any Investor
within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "1934 ACT"), if any, (iii) any underwriter (as defined in the 1933
Act) for the Investors, and (iv) the directors, officers, partners, employees
and each person who controls any such underwriter within the meaning of the 1933
Act or the 1934 Act, if any (each, an "INDEMNIFIED PERSON"), against any joint
or several losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (collectively,
together with actions, proceedings or inquiries by any regulatory or
self-regulatory organization, whether commenced or threatened, in respect
thereof, "CLAIMS") to which any of them may become subject insofar as such
Claims arise out of or are based upon: (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact in a Registration Statement or the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus if used prior to the effective date of such Registration
Statement, or contained in the final prospectus (as amended or supplemented, if
the Company files any amendment thereof or supplement thereto with the SEC) or
the omission or alleged omission to state therein any material fact necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which the
statements therein were made, not misleading; or (iii) any violation or alleged
violation by the Company of the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act, any other law,
including, without limitation, any state securities law, or any rule or
regulation thereunder relating to the offer or sale of the Registrable
Securities (the matters in the foregoing clauses (i) through (iii) being,
collectively, "VIOLATIONS"). Subject to the restrictions set forth in Section
6(c) with respect to the number of legal counsel, the Company shall reimburse
the Indemnified Person, promptly as such expenses are incurred and are due and
payable, for any reasonable legal fees or other reasonable expenses incurred by
them in connection with investigating or defending any such Claim.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification
agreement contained in this Section 6(a): (i) shall not apply to a Claim arising
out of or based upon a Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity
with information furnished in writing to the Company by any Indemnified Person
or underwriter for such Indemnified Person expressly for use in connection with
the preparation of such Registration Statement or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto; (ii) shall not apply to amounts paid in settlement of any
Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld; and (iii) with
respect to any preliminary prospectus, shall not inure to the benefit of any
Indemnified Person if the untrue statement or omission of material fact
contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected on a timely basis in the
prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, such corrected prospectus was
timely made available by the Company pursuant to Section 3(c) hereof, and the
Indemnified Person was promptly advised in writing not to use the incorrect
prospectus prior to the use giving rise to a Violation and such Indemnified
Person, notwithstanding such advice, used it. Such indemnity shall remain in
full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Indemnified Person and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable
Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9.

            (b) In connection with any Registration Statement in which an
Investor is participating, each such Investor agrees severally and not jointly
to indemnify, hold harmless



                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

and defend, to the same extent and in the same manner set forth in Section 6(a),
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the
Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, any underwriter and any other
stockholder selling securities pursuant to the Registration Statement or any of
its directors or officers or any person who controls such stockholder or
underwriter within the meaning of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act (collectively and
together with an Indemnified Person, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), against any Claim
to which any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or
otherwise, insofar as such Claim arises out of or is based upon any Violation by
such Investor, in each case to the extent (and only to the extent) that such
Violation occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Investor expressly for use in connection with
such Registration Statement; and subject to Section 6(c) such Investor will
reimburse any legal or other expenses (promptly as such expenses are incurred
and are due and payable) reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim; provided, however, that the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 6(b) shall not apply to amounts paid in
settlement of any Claim if such settlement is effected without the prior written
consent of such Investor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld;
provided, further, however, that the Investor shall be liable under this
Agreement (including this Section 6(b) and Section 7) for only that amount as
does not exceed the net proceeds to such Investor as a result of the sale of
Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement. Such indemnity
shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or
on behalf of such Indemnified Party and shall survive the transfer of the
Registrable Securities by the Investors pursuant to Section 9. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the indemnification agreement
contained in this Section 6(b) with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall
not inure to the benefit of any Indemnified Party if the untrue statement or
omission of material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus was corrected
on a timely basis in the prospectus, as then amended or supplemented.

            (c) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action
(including any governmental action), such Indemnified Person or Indemnified
Party shall, if a Claim in respect thereof is to be made against any
indemnifying party under this Section 6, deliver to the indemnifying party a
written notice of the commencement thereof, and the indemnifying party shall
have the right to participate in, and, to the extent the indemnifying party so
desires, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly noticed, to assume
control of the defense thereof with counsel mutually satisfactory to the
indemnifying party and the Indemnified Person or the Indemnified Party, as the
case may be (which, in the case of the Company, shall be deemed to include
Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP); provided, however, that an Indemnified Person
or Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own counsel with the
fees and expenses to be paid by the indemnifying party, if, in the reasonable
opinion of counsel retained by the indemnifying party, the representation by
such counsel of the Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and the indemnifying
party would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between such Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party and any other party
represented by such counsel in such proceeding. The indemnifying party shall pay
for only one separate legal



                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

counsel for the Indemnified Persons or the Indemnified Parties, as applicable,
and such legal counsel shall be selected by Investors holding a
majority-in-interest of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration
Statement to which the Claim relates (with the approval of a
majority-in-interest of the Initial Investors), if the Investors are entitled to
indemnification hereunder, or the Company, if the Company is entitled to
indemnification hereunder, as applicable. The failure to deliver written notice
to the indemnifying party within a reasonable time of the commencement of any
such action shall not relieve such indemnifying party of any liability to the
Indemnified Person or Indemnified Party under this Section 6, except to the
extent that the indemnifying party is actually prejudiced in its ability to
defend such action. The indemnification required by this Section 6 shall be made
by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as such expense, loss, damage or liability is incurred
and is due and payable.

         7. CONTRIBUTION.

            To the extent any indemnification by an indemnifying party is
prohibited or limited by law, the indemnifying party agrees to make the maximum
contribution with respect to any amounts for which it would otherwise be liable
under Section 6 to the fullest extent permitted by law; provided, however, that
(i) no contribution shall be made under circumstances where the maker would not
have been liable for indemnification under the fault standards set forth in
Section 6, (ii) no seller of Registrable Securities guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any seller of Registrable Securities who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation, and (iii) contribution (together
with any indemnification or other obligations under this Agreement) by any
seller of Registrable Securities shall be limited in amount to the net amount of
proceeds received by such seller from the sale of such Registrable Securities.



                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

         8. REPORTS UNDER THE 1934 ACT.

            With a view to making available to the Investors the benefits of
Rule 144 promulgated under the 1933 Act or any other similar rule or regulation
of the SEC that may at any time permit the investors to sell securities of the
Company to the public without registration ("RULE 144"), the Company agrees to:

            (a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144;

            (b) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other
documents required of the Company under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so long as
the Company remains subject to such requirements (it being understood that
nothing herein shall limit the Company's obligations under Section 4(c) of the
Securities Purchase Agreement) and the filing of such reports and other
documents is required for the applicable provisions of Rule 144; and

            (c) furnish to each Investor so long as such Investor owns
Registrable Securities, promptly upon written request, (i) a written statement
by the Company that it has complied with the reporting requirements of Rule 144,
the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act, (ii) a copy of the most recent annual or
quarterly report of the Company and such other reports and documents so filed by
the Company, and (iii) such other information as may be reasonably requested to
permit the Investors to sell such securities pursuant to Rule 144 without
registration.

         9. ASSIGNMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

            The rights under this Agreement shall be automatically assignable by
the Investors to any transferee of not less than 50,000 shares of Registrable
Securities (subject to subsequent adjustments for stock splits, stock dividends,
reverse stock splits and the like) if: (i) the Investor agrees in writing with
the transferee or assignee to assign such rights, and a copy of such agreement
is furnished to the Company within a reasonable time after such assignment, (ii)
the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer or assignment,
furnished with written notice of (a) the name and address of such transferee or
assignee, and (b) the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being transferred or assigned, (iii) following such transfer or assignment,
the further disposition of such securities by the transferee or assignee is
restricted under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, (iv) at or
before the time the Company receives the written notice contemplated by clause
(ii) of this sentence, the transferee or assignee agrees in writing with the
Company to be bound by all of the provisions contained herein, (v) such transfer
shall have been made in accordance with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Purchase Agreement, and (vi) such transferee shall be an "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" as that term defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D promulgated under the
1933 Act.



                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16


         10. AMENDMENT OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS.

             Provisions of this Agreement may be amended and the observance
thereof may be waived (either generally or in a particular instance and either
retroactively or prospectively), only with written consent of the Company, each
of the Initial Investors (to the extent such Initial Investor still owns
Registrable Securities) and Investors who hold a majority interest of the
Registrable Securities. Any amendment or waiver effected in accordance with this
Section 10 shall be binding upon each Investor and the Company.

         11. MISCELLANEOUS.

             (a) A person or entity is deemed to be a holder of Registrable
Securities whenever such person or entity owns of record such Registrable
Securities. If the Company receives conflicting instructions, notices or
elections from two or more persons or entities with respect to the same
Registrable Securities, the Company shall act upon the basis of instructions,
notice or election received from the registered owner of such Registrable
Securities.

             (b) Any notices required or permitted to be given under the terms
hereof shall be sent by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested)
or delivered personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery
service) or by facsimile and shall be effective five days after being placed in
the mail, if mailed by regular United States mail, or upon receipt, if delivered
personally or by courier (including a recognized overnight delivery service) or
by facsimile, in each case addressed to a party. The addresses for such
communications shall be:

                           If to the Company:

                           The ViaLink Company
                           13155 Noel Road, Ste. 800
                           Dallas, TX 75240
                           Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                           Facsimile: 972-934-5555

                           With copy to:


                           Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP
                           2001 Ross Avenue, Suite 2500
                           Dallas, TX 75201
                           Attention: Mark E. Betzen, Esq.
                           Facsimile: 214-468-3704

If to an Investor: to the address set forth immediately below such Investor's
name on the signature pages to the Securities Purchase Agreement.



                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

                           With copy to:

                           Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP
                           1735 Market Street
                           Philadelphia, PA 19103
                           Attention:  Gerald J. Guarcini, Esq.
                           Facsimile: 215-864-8999

             (c) Failure of any party to exercise any right or remedy under this
Agreement or otherwise, or delay by a party in exercising such right or remedy,
shall not operate as a waiver thereof.

             (d) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be
performed in the State of Delaware (without regard to principles of conflict of
laws). Both parties irrevocably consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the
United States federal courts and the state courts located in Delaware with
respect to any suit or proceeding based on or arising under this Agreement, the
agreements entered into in connection herewith or the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby and irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such suit
or proceeding may be determined in such courts. Both parties irrevocably waive
the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit or
proceeding. Both parties further agree that service of process upon a party
mailed by first class mail shall be deemed in every respect effective service of
process upon the party in any such suit or proceeding. Nothing herein shall
affect either party's right to serve process in any other manner permitted by
law. Both parties agree that a final non-appealable judgment in any such suit or
proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by
suit on such judgment or in any other lawful manner.

             (e) This Agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement (including
all schedules and exhibits thereto) constitute the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. There are
no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set
forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement and the Securities
Purchase Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

             (f) Subject to the requirements of Section 9 hereof, this Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of
each of the parties hereto.

             (g) The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

             (h) This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall constitute one
and the same agreement. This Agreement, once executed by a party, may be
delivered to the other party hereto



                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
by facsimile transmission of a copy of this Agreement bearing the signature of
the party so delivering this Agreement.

             (i) Each party shall do and perform, or cause to be done and
performed, all such further acts and things, and shall execute and deliver all
such other agreements, certificates, instruments and documents, as the other
party may reasonably request in order to carry out the intent and accomplish the
purposes of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.

             (j) Except as otherwise provided herein, all consents and other
determinations to be made by the Investors pursuant to this Agreement shall be
made by Investors holding a majority of the Registrable Securities.

             (k) The Company acknowledges that a breach by it of its obligations
hereunder will cause irreparable harm to each Investor by vitiating the intent
and purpose of the transactions contemplated hereby. Accordingly, the Company
acknowledges that the remedy at law for breach of its obligations hereunder will
be inadequate and agrees, in the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
Company of any of the provisions hereunder, that each Investor shall be
entitled, in addition to all other available remedies in law or in equity, to an
injunction or injunctions to prevent or cure breaches of the provisions of this
Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without
the necessity of showing economic loss and without any bond or other security
being required.

             (l) The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the
language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of
strict construction will be applied against any party.

             (m) In the event that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or
unenforceable under any applicable statute or rule of law, then such provision
shall be deemed inoperative to the extent that it may conflict therewith and
shall be deemed modified to conform with such statute or rule of law. Any
provision hereof which may prove invalid or unenforceable under any law shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof.

             (n) The initial number of Registrable Securities included in any
Registration Statement and each increase to the number of Registrable Securities
included therein shall be allocated pro rata among the Investors based on the
number of Registrable Securities held by each Investor at the time of such
establishment or increase, as the case may be. In the event an Investor shall
sell or otherwise transfer any of such holder's Registrable Securities, each
permitted transferee shall be allocated a pro rata portion of the number of
Registrable Securities included in a Registration Statement for such transferor.
Any shares of Common Stock included on a Registration Statement and which remain
allocated to any person or entity which does not hold any Registrable Securities
shall be allocated to the remaining Investors, pro rata based on the number of
shares of Registrable Securities then held by such Investors.



                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the undersigned Initial Investors have
caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.


THE VIALINK COMPANY


By: /s/  WILLIAM P. CREASMAN
    -------------------------------------------
         William P. Creasman
         Vice President, Chief Financial
         Officer and General Counsel



RGC INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS, LDC
By:      Rose Glen Capital Management, L.P.,
         Investment Manager
         By:  RGC General Partner Corp.,
              as General Partner


By: /s/  WAYNE D. BLOCH
    -------------------------------------------
         Wayne D. Bloch
         Managing Director




                                      -19-