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                          REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

            This Registration Rights Agreement (this "AGREEMENT") is made and
entered into as of September 12, 2000, among RoweCom Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the investors signatory hereto (each such
investor is a "PURCHASER" and all such investors are, collectively, the
"PURCHASERS").

            This Agreement is made pursuant to the Convertible Debenture
Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof among the Company and the
Purchasers (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT").

            The Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

            DEFINITIONS

            Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are
defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in
the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:

            "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
that directly or indirectly controls or is controlled by or under common control
with such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "CONTROL," when used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise;
and the terms of "AFFILIATED," "CONTROLLING" and "CONTROLLED" have meanings
correlative to the foregoing.

            "BUSINESS DAY" means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day
which shall be a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions in the
State of New York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts generally are authorized
or required by law or other government actions to close.

            "CLOSING DATE" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.

            "COMMISSION" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

            "COMMON STOCK" means the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value, or
such securities in to which that such stock shall hereafter be reclassified.

            "DEBENTURES" means the Convertible Debentures issued to the
Purchasers in accordance with the Purchase Agreement.

            "EFFECTIVENESS DATE" means with respect to the initial Registration
Statement required to be filed hereunder, the 90th day following the Closing
Date and, with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be
required pursuant to Section 3(c), the 90th day following the date that notice
of the requirement to file such additional Registration Statement is provided.

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            "EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(a).

            "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

            "FILING DATE" means the 30th day following the Closing Date and,
with respect to any additional Registration Statements which may be required
pursuant to Section 3(c), the 30th day following the date that notice of the
requirement to file such additional Registration Statement is provided.

            "HOLDER" or "HOLDERS" means the holder or holders, as the case may
be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

            "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).

            "INDEMNIFYING PARTY" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
5(c).

            "LOSSES" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

            "PERSON" means an individual or a corporation, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability
company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision
thereof) or other entity of any kind.

            "PROCEEDING" means an action, claim, suit, investigation or
proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial
proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

            "PROSPECTUS" means the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any
information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the
Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with
respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable
Securities covered by the Registration Statement, and all other amendments and
supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all
material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
such Prospectus.

            "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" means (i) the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion in full of the Debentures, and (ii) the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon exercise in full of the then outstanding Warrants.

            "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" means the registration statement and any
additional registration statements contemplated by Section 3(c), including (in
each case) the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such registration
statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all
exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

            "RULE 144" means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

            "RULE 415" means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

            "RULE 424" means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to
the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any
similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having
substantially the same effect as such Rule.

            "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

            "SPECIAL COUNSEL" means one special counsel to the Holders, for
which the Holders will be reimbursed by the Company pursuant to Section 4.

            "WARRANTS" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase
Agreement.

            SHELF REGISTRATION

            On or prior to each Filing Date, the Company shall prepare and file
with the Commission a "Shelf" Registration Statement covering the resale of all
Registrable Securities for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant
to Rule 415. The Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the
Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities
on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on another appropriate
form and shall contain (except if otherwise directed by the Holders) the "Plan
of Distribution" attached hereto as ANNEX A. The Company shall use its best
efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective under the
Securities Act as promptly as possible after the filing thereof, but in any
event prior to the Effectiveness Date, and shall use its best efforts to keep
such Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act
until the date which is two years after the date that such Registration
Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such earlier date when all
Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold or
may be sold without volume restrictions pursuant to Rule 144(k) (the
"EFFECTIVENESS PERIOD").

               The initial Registration Statement to be filed hereunder shall
include (but not be limited to) a number of shares of Common Stock equal to no
less than 3,019,371 shares of Common Stock.

               If (a) a Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to
its Filing Date (if the Company files such Registration Statement without
affording the Holder the opportunity to review and comment on the same as
required by Section 3(a) hereof, the Company shall not be

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deemed to have satisfied this clause (a)), or (b) the Company fails to file with
the Commission a request for acceleration in accordance with Rule 461
promulgated under the Securities Act, within five days of the date that the
Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the
Commission that a Registration Statement will not be "reviewed," or not subject
to further review, or (c) a Registration Statement filed hereunder is not
declared effective by the Commission on or prior to its Effectiveness Date, or
(d) after a Registration Statement is filed with and declared effective by the
Commission, such Registration Statement ceases to be effective as to all
Registrable Securities to which it is required to relate at any time prior to
the expiration of the Effectiveness Period without being succeeded within ten
Business Days by an amendment to such Registration Statement or by a subsequent
Registration Statement filed with and declared effective by the Commission, or
(e) the Common Stock shall be delisted or suspended from trading on the Nasdaq
National Market ("NASDAQ") or the New York Stock Exchange, American Stock
Exchange, or the Nasdaq Smallcap Market (each, a "SUBSEQUENT MARKET") for more
than three Trading Days (which need not be consecutive Trading Days), or (f)
after declared effective by the Commission, a Holder is not permitted to utilize
a Registration Statement or the Prospectus thereunder to resell Registrable
Securities for more than five consecutive Trading Days or an aggregate of eight
Trading Days (which need not be consecutive Trading Days), or (g) an amendment
to a Registration Statement is not filed by the Company with the Commission
within ten Business Days of the Commission's notifying the Company that such
amendment is required in order for such Registration Statement to be declared
effective (any such failure or breach being referred to as an "EVENT," and for
purposes of clauses (a) and (c) the date on which such Event occurs, or for
purposes of clause (b) the date on which such five day period is exceeded, or
for purposes of clauses (d) and (g) the date which such ten Business Day-period
is exceeded, or for purposes of clauses (e) and (f) the date on which such three
Trading Day-period is exceeded, being referred to as "EVENT DATE"), then, on
each such Event Date and every monthly anniversary thereof until the applicable
Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as
liquidated damages and not as a penalty, equal to 2.0% of the purchase price
paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. If the Company fails to
pay any liquidated damages pursuant to this Section in full within seven days
after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 18%
per annum (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by
applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such liquidated
damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in
full. The liquidated damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a
pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event.

            REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

            In connection with the Company's registration obligations
hereunder, the Company shall:

            Not less than five Business Days prior to the filing of each
Registration Statement or any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto (including any document that would be incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference), the Company shall, (i) furnish to the
Holders and their Special Counsel copies of all such documents proposed to be

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filed, which documents (other than those incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference) will be subject to the review of such Holders and
their Special Counsel, and (ii) cause its officers and directors, counsel and
independent certified public accountants to respond to such inquiries as shall
be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of respective counsel to conduct a
reasonable investigation within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company
shall not file the Registration Statement or any such Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto to which the Holders of a majority of the
Registrable Securities and their Special Counsel shall reasonably object,
provided, the Company is notified of such objection no later than 3 Business
Days after the Holders have been so furnished copies of such documents.

               (i) Prepare and file with the Commission such amendments,
including post-effective amendments, to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep the
Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable
Securities for the Effectiveness Period and prepare and file with the Commission
such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under
the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities; (ii) cause the related
Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement,
and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and (iii)
respond as promptly as reasonably possible, and in any event within ten Business
Days, to any comments received from the Commission with respect to the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and as promptly as reasonably
possible provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from
and to the Commission relating to the Registration Statement.

               File additional Registration Statements if the number of
Registrable Securities at any time exceeds 85% of the number of shares of Common
Stock then registered in all their existing Registration Statements hereunder.

               Notify the Holders of Registrable Securities to be sold and
their Special Counsel as promptly as reasonably possible (and, in the case of
(i)(A) below, not less than five Business Days prior to such filing) and (if
requested by any such Person) confirm such notice in writing no later than
one Business Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus
supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is
proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether
there will be a "review" of such Registration Statement and whenever the
Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement (the Company
shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses
thereto to each of the Holders); and (C) with respect to the Registration
Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become
effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or
state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (iii) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable
Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the
receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of
any Proceeding for such

<PAGE>

purpose; and (vi) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes
the financial statements included in the Registration Statement ineligible for
inclusion therein or any statement made in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by
reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

               Promptly deliver to each Holder and their Special Counsel,
without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each
form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may
reasonably request. The Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus
and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in
connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

               Prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, use its
best efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders and
their Special Counsel in connection with the registration or qualification (or
exemption from such registration or qualification) of such Registrable
Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such
jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder requests in writing, to
keep each such registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective
during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things
necessary or advisable to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement; PROVIDED, that the
Company shall not be required to consent generally to jurisdiction or service of
process in any such jurisdiction, or qualify generally to do business in any
jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, or subject the Company to any
tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

               Cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation
and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered
to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall
be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement, of all restrictive
legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations
and registered in such names as any such Holders may request.

              Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(d)(vi),
as promptly as reasonably possible, prepare a supplement or amendment, including
a post-effective amendment, to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the
related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as
thereafter delivered, neither the Registration Statement nor such Prospectus
will contain an 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 they were made, not misleading.

<PAGE>


            Comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission.

               REGISTRATION EXPENSES. All fees and expenses incident to the
performance of or compliance with this Agreement by the Company shall be borne
by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to
the Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing
sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees
(including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings
required to be made with the NASDAQ and any Subsequent Market on which the
Common Stock is then listed for trading, and (B) in compliance with applicable
state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky
qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of
the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of
such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders)), (ii) printing expenses
(including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for
Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses requested by the Holders),
(iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (iv) fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and up to $7,500 of the reasonable fees and
disbursements of Special Counsel for the Holders and (v) fees and expenses of
all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing
or any other provision hereof, the Company will not be liable for any
underwriting or brokerage fees or other selling expenses in respect of the
Registrable Securities, which will be the responsibility of the Holders thereof.

<PAGE>

            INDEMNIFICATION

               INDEMNIFICATION BY THE COMPANY. The Company shall,
notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify and hold harmless
each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, brokers (including brokers who
offer and sell Registrable Securities as principal as a result of a pledge or
any failure to perform under a margin call of Common Stock), investment advisors
and employees of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act) and the officers, directors, agents and employees of each such controlling
Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without
limitation, costs of preparation and attorneys' fees) and expenses
(collectively, "LOSSES"), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or
supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or
relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any
Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent,
but only to the extent, that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are based
solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such
Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto,
(2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section
3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus
after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is
outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice
contemplated in Section 6(e), (3) the failure by such Holder or such Holder's
agent to comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Holder under
the Securities Act applicable to sales of Registrable Securities by such Holder
under a Registration Statement, or (4) the failure of such Holder or such
Holder's agent to resell Registrable Securities in a manner permitted by the
Plan of Distribution. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the
institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

            INDEMNIFICATION BY HOLDERS. Each Holder shall, severally and not
jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers,
agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the
directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment not subject
to appeal or review) arising solely out of or based solely upon any untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any
Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arising solely out of or based solely upon any omission of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not

<PAGE>

misleading to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
omission is contained in any information so furnished in writing by such Holder
to the Company specifically for inclusion in such Registration Statement or such
Prospectus or to the extent that (1) such untrue statements or omissions are
based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein, or to the extent that such
information relates to such Holder or such Holder's proposed method of
distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and expressly approved
in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement it
being agreed that the attached plan of distribution has been so approved by all
Holders, (2) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in
Section 3(d)(ii)-(vi), the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective
Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the
Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of
the Advice contemplated in Section 6(e), (3) such Holder and its agent failed to
comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Holder under the
Securities Act applicable to sales of Registrable Securities by such Holder
under a Registration Statement, or (4) such Holder or its agent to resold
Registrable Securities in a manner not permitted by the Plan of Distribution. In
no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in
amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon
the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification
obligation.

            CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. If any Proceeding shall
be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY"), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person
from whom indemnity is sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing, and the
Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all
fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided, that
the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement,
except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court
of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or
further review) that such failure shall have proximately and materially
adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party.

            An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in
writing to pay such fees and expenses; or (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have
failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3)
the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties)
include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such
Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest
is likely to exist if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party
and the Indemnifying Party (in which case, if such Indemnified Party notifies
the Indemnifying Party in writing that it elects to employ separate counsel at
the expense of the Indemnifying Party, the Indemnifying Party shall not have the
right to assume the defense thereof and such

<PAGE>

counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party). The Indemnifying
Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected
without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the
Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of
which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

               All fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party that are payable
hereunder by the Indemnifying Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to
the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such
Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section) shall be paid to the
Indemnified Party, as incurred, within ten Business Days of written notice
thereof to the Indemnifying Party (regardless of whether it is ultimately
determined that an Indemnified Party is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder; PROVIDED, that the Indemnifying Party may require such Indemnified
Party to undertake to reimburse all such fees and expenses to the extent it is
finally judicially determined that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to
indemnification hereunder).

              CONTRIBUTION. If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a)
or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party (by reason of public policy or
otherwise), then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and
Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question,
including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission
or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to
information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or
payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c), any reasonable attorneys' or other
reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any
Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or
expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section was available to
such party in accordance with its terms.

               The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by
pro RATA allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take
into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no
Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in
excess of the amount by which the proceeds actually received by such Holder
from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds
the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay
by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.

<PAGE>


               The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section are in addition to any non-duplicative liability that the Indemnifying
Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties or vice-versa.

               MISCELLANEOUS

               AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement,
including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or
supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof
may not be given, unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company
and the Holders of at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable
Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from
the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the
rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of
other Holders may be given by Holders of at least a majority of the Registrable
Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except
in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence.

               NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, on or after the date of this Agreement, enter into any
agreement with respect to its securities that would have the effect of impairing
the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with
the provisions hereof. Except as and to the extent specified in SCHEDULE 6(B)
hereto, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has previously entered
into any agreement granting any registration rights with respect to any of its
securities to any Person.

               NO PIGGYBACK ON REGISTRATIONS. Except as and to the extent
specified in SCHEDULE 6(B) hereto, neither the Company nor any of its security
holders (other than the Holders in such capacity pursuant hereto) may include
securities of the Company in the Registration Statement other than the
Registrable Securities, and the Company shall not after the date hereof enter
into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders.

               COMPLIANCE. Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply
with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to
it in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement.

               DISCONTINUED DISPOSITION. Each Holder agrees by its acquisition
of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company
of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Sections 3(d)(ii),
3(d)(iii), 3(d)(iv), 3(d)(v) or 3(d)(vi), such Holder will forthwith discontinue
disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement
until such Holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented Prospectus and/or
amended Registration Statement contemplated by Section 3(h), or until it is
advised in writing (the "ADVICE") by the Company that the use of the applicable
Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any
additional or supplemental filings that

<PAGE>

are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or
Registration Statement. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to
enforce the provisions of this paragraph.

               PIGGY-BACK REGISTRATIONS. If at any time during the Effectiveness
Period there is not an effective Registration Statement covering all of the
Registrable Securities and the Company shall determine to prepare and file with
the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own
account or the account of others under the Securities Act of any of its equity
securities, other than on Form S-4 or Form S-8 (each as promulgated under the
Securities Act) 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, then the Company shall send to each Holder written notice of such
determination and, if within fifteen days after receipt of such notice, any such
Holder shall so request in writing, the Company shall include in such
registration statement all or any part of such Registrable Securities such
holder requests to be registered.

                   NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or
deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Section prior to 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of
transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the
facsimile telephone number specified in this Agreement later than 6:30 p.m. (New
York City time) on any date and earlier than 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on
such date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by
nationally recognized overnight courier service, or (iv) upon actual receipt by
the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such
notices and communications shall be as follows:


      If to the Company:         RoweCom Inc.
                                 60 Aberdeen Avenue
                                 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
                                 Facsimile No.: (617) 497-6825
                                 Attn: Paul Burmeister, CFO

      With copies to:            Brian Keeler
      Bingham Dana LLP
                                 150 Federal Street
                                 Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                                 Facsimile No.: (617) 951-8736
                                 Attn: Brian Keeler
<PAGE>

      If                         to a Purchaser: To the address set forth under
                                 such Purchaser's name on the signature pages
                                 hereto.

      If to any other Person who is then the registered Holder:

                                 To the address of such Holder as it appears
                                 in the stock transfer books of the Company

or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same
manner, by such Person.

                SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of
the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. The Company may not
assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of
each Holder. Each Holder may assign their respective rights hereunder in the
manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.

                COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original
and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement. In
the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, such
signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the party executing (or on
whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect
as if such facsimile signature were the original thereof.

                GOVERNING LAW. All questions concerning the construction,
validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be governed by
and construed and enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to the principles of conflicts of law thereof. Each
party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and
federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the
adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any
transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein, and hereby irrevocably
waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim
that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that
such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably
waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any
such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof to such party at the
address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such
service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice
thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right
to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

                CUMULATIVE REMEDIES. The remedies provided herein are cumulative
and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

                SEVERABILITY. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid,
illegal, void or unenforceable, the

<PAGE>

remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein
shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired
or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their reasonable efforts to
find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the
same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or
restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the
parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants
and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared
invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

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

                INDEPENDENT NATURE OF PURCHASERS' OBLIGATIONS AND RIGHTS. The
obligations of each Purchaser hereunder is several and not joint with the
obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be
responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other
Purchaser hereunder. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or
document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant
hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a
partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or
create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with
respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including
without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be
necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any
proceeding for such purpose.


                 [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                          SIGNATURE PAGES TO FOLLOW]


<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration
Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

                        ROWECOM INC.


                        By:
                           -----------------------------------
                           Name:
                           Title:






                 [REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
                   SIGNATURE PAGES OF PURCHASER TO FOLLOW]


<PAGE>


                        MONTROSE INVESTMENTS LTD.



                        By:
                           -----------------------------------
                           Name:
                           Title:

                        Address for Notice:

                        Montrose Investments Ltd.
                        300 Crescent Court, Suite 700
                        Dallas, TX  75201
                        Facsimile No.: (214) 758-1221
                        Attn: Jeff Estes and Kim Rozman


      With copies to:   Robinson Silverman Pearce Aronsohn &
                        Berman LLP
                        1290 Avenue of the Americas
                        New York, NY 10104
                        Facsimile No.:  (212) 541-4630 and (212) 541-1432
                        Attn: Eric L. Cohen, Esq.


<PAGE>



Annex A


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      The Selling Stockholders and any of their pledgees, assignees and
successors-in-interest may, from time to time, sell any or all of their shares
of Common Stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the
shares are traded or in private transactions. These sales may be at fixed or
negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the
following methods when selling shares:

o     ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the
      broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

o     block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares
      as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as
      principal to facilitate the transaction;

o     purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the
      broker-dealer for its account;

o     an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable
      exchange;

o     privately negotiated transactions;

o     broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a
      specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

o     a combination of any such methods of sale; and

o     any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

      The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus.

      The Selling Stockholders may also engage in puts and calls and other
transactions in securities of the Company or derivatives of Company securities
and may sell or deliver shares in connection with these trades. The Selling
Stockholders may pledge their shares to their brokers under the margin
provisions of customer agreements. If a Selling Stockholder defaults on a margin
loan, the broker may, from time to time, offer and sell the pledged shares. The
Selling Stockholders have advised the Company that they have not entered into
any agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or
broker-dealers regarding the sale of their shares other than ordinary course
brokerage arrangements, nor is there an underwriter or coordinating broker
acting in connection with the proposed sale of shares by the Selling
Stockholders.

<PAGE>

      Broker-dealers engaged by the Selling Stockholders may arrange for other
brokers-dealers to participate in sales. Broker-dealers may receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling Stockholders (or, if any broker-dealer acts as
agent for the purchaser of shares, from the purchaser) in amounts to be
negotiated. The Selling Stockholders do not expect these commissions and
discounts to exceed what is customary in the types of transactions involved.

      The Selling Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that are
involved in selling the shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any
commissions received by such broker-dealers or agents and any profit on the
resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting
commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

      The Company is required to pay all fees and expenses incident to the
registration of the shares, including fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Selling Stockholders. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling
Stockholders against certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.