Dons become internet 'knowledge gurus'

Academics are to charge for selected words of wisdom through a new service on the internet, launched this week. More than 30 lecturers at the University of Northumbria have joined together in a web-based "knowledge community" or guild, calling itself Knowledge Guru, through which they will sell their expertise on travel law, business and management, travel and tourism and general law. Businessmen and women will pay between dollars 2 and dollars 20 for a piece of knowledge. The profits will be shared by the academic, the university - or outside experts found by the university - and Iqport, part of NatWest's electronic trading division, which delivers the service.