Beta Scam

http://www.economist.com/issue/31-08-96/wb1.html Beware Geeks bearing gifts The Internet is well known as a pioneer when it comes to technology. Less noticed is its role on the cutting edge of management fashion. Nowadays, it is fashionable for firms to "outsource" product development to just about everybody. Leading Internet firms have developed this method a stage further: they have found an outside supplier so keen to tender his services that he is sometimes willing to pay for the privilege. The name of this fool? The consumer. [More on beta-scamming at the URL.]