It's only fair to take a look at some of the women's sites from the summer of 1999. That is happening with online advertising. There is a growing discussion, even a dispute, about who owns customer data. Advertisers feel they are paying for the ads, so they should control the information. Publishers feel it occurs on their site, so they should benefit.
Ad networks rely on the information to better choose the correct ads.
Customers themselves may claim the data is theirs. All of this reflects the crucial role of information when customer management starts to supplant product management. NY Times story . Siebel got famous by creating tools to support the sales force. How computers and the Net have permeated our lives.