November 11, 2002

	Go to
	IP Management
	Marketplaces
	Technology
	ALSO OF INTEREST

Volume 80, Number 45
CENEAR 80 45 p. 28
ISSN 0009-2347

---

E-BUSINESS
NEWS UPDATES FOR THE WORLD OF BUSINESS ONLINE

IP Management

---

DuPont, Air Products & Chemicals, and Eastman Chemical have recently turned to technology to manage their intellectual property (IP). DuPont has launched an online technology bank as part of its intellectual assets licensing and sales business that lists more than 700 technologies available for licensing in 23 categories related to all its various businesses. The DuPont site uses technology developed by yet2.com, an online technology marketplace. Meanwhile, Air Products has selected software and Web-based tools from PLX Systems to help manage its patent estate and evaluate external technology opportunities. The database software will help the company compare and price IP for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures; estimate value for licensing, donation, and financial accounting; and make analyses for patent disputes, contracts, and portfolio management. Similarly, Eastman will use software from ClearForest to analyze IP and competitive information from a variety of internal and external sources. The analyses will be used by managers in making business and licensing decisions.

 
Top

Marketplaces

---

ChemConnect and Global eXchange Services (GXS) have created a link between their networks. Members using ChemConnect's connectivity services can exchange data and documents with thousands of suppliers and customers in other industries on the GXS network. Of more than 100,000 companies on the GXS network, about 50,000 have been identified by ChemConnect as potential connections for its members. GXS, part of GE until June, has operated for more than 35 years and processes 1 billion transactions per year accounting for $1 trillion in goods and services. The link translates and routes documents created with the XML-based Chem eStandards into formats such as electronic data exchange (EDI), proprietary data forms, and other versions of XML. Occidental Chemical is the first ChemConnect member to test the link and initiate electronic exchanges with some of its trading partners.

 
Top

Technology

---

Documentum will acquire eRoom Technology, a supplier of software for electronic collaboration (C&EN, Sept. 9, page 16). Documentum is a leading provider of software for managing information content. Documentum will incorporate eRoom's technology into its enterprise content management platform. This integrated system will let users set up virtual work spaces for structured, ad hoc, and real-time collaboration in which documents can be created, shared, edited, referenced, and stored. Documentum will issue about 7.7 million shares, worth about $108 million, and pay $12.6 million in cash for eRoom.

Adexs, which stands for Automated Document Exchange Services, is the new name for fob.com. Originally created as an online chemicals purchasing hub, fob later acquired technology for publishing, distributing, and managing commerce-related documents. It then created MSDSonline, which focuses on material safety data sheet handling, and formed Adexs in 2001. It now operates solely as Adexs, recently closing a $3 million round of financing and naming Tom Arnold as its new president and CEO. Adexs focuses on providing technology and services for document exchange and distribution in industries such as chemicals, pharmaceuticals, health care services, and manufacturing.

Top

ALSO OF INTEREST

• Rhodia has completed a pilot program with Kaidara Software to provide online virtual technical advisers to customers. Advisers should be available for problem solving on Rhodia's personal care business website by the end of the year. 

• Crompton Corp.'s website now includes an interactive education program that illustrates chemical manufacturing processes and chemistry's impact on daily life. It's designed to be used by students and teachers.  

• GlaxoSmithKline is using Plumtree Software's corporate portal to create myGSK. Before making this change, GSK had over 3,000 intranet sites; employees on five continents can now access information across the company through one portal. 

• Air Products has launched a comprehensive website for its semiconductor industry customers, providing information on consumables and gas and chemicals management. Meanwhile, Dow Chemical's advanced electronic materials business has launched DowLumation.com as a source of news and information about its light-emitting polymers. 

• Xiameter, Dow Corning's no-frills silicone products site, has upgraded its offerings. Some new features include online seminars, website tutorials in a variety of languages, delivery status, product catalog details, and personalized customer information.  

• Honeywell Plastics has updated its website to improve how it communicates and works with customers. Along with product information, there is an interactive answer center, education programs, and various calculators for materials use.  

• SpecialChem has added adhesives and sealants to its specialty chemicals websites. Specifically, formulators and users can find technical and product information on adhesive and sealant raw materials.  

• Cendian, a chemicals and plastics logistics provider created by Eastman Chemical, has been approved as a Responsible Care partner by the American Chemistry Council. The company was recently selected to manage logistics for 250 North American collection and processing facilities owned by the environmental services company Safety-Kleen. 

• Mitsubishi Chemical and 10 related group companies have launched a plastics solutions website. It will feature products and support for customer product development using Mitsubishi materials.

Top