FTC requests Covisint clarification

NEWS The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which rules over anti-trust issues in the US, has asked for more detailed information on Covisint - a proposed e-procurement hub for the car industry. Commerce One - which is behind much of the technology for the venture - said a response would be made "as soon as possible" but made no guarantees as to how long that might be, warning that providing the information requested by the FTC may be a lengthy process. Yesterday, neither Covisint's backers - which include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors and Renault - nor the FTC would comment on Commerce One's remarks. Covisint was originally scheduled for a launch in the second half of 2000.