In brief: Cybergold patents online 'attention brokerage'

NEWS An Internet marketing start-up claims it has cornered what it calls the 'attention market'. Cybergold pays users to view Internet advertising and fill out marketing surveys on behalf of their corporate clients. With its eye on a potential new media gold mine, the company patented the business model, dubbed an 'attention brokerage'. Cybergold claims the marketing tool has been created for the Internet and emerging cyber-culture. It hopes attention brokerage will become widely used in all corporate marketing regimes.