

                                  EXHIBIT 99.2

                       FORM OF OPTION ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
<PAGE>

                                 ABOUT.COM, INC.

                        STOCK OPTION ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT
                                    [TARGET]
                              __________ STOCK PLAN

Optionee: <<First_Name>> <<Last_Name>>,

            STOCK OPTION ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT effective as of the ______ day of
_______________, _______ by About.com, Inc., a __________ corporation
("About.com").

            WHEREAS, the undersigned individual ("Optionee") holds one or more
outstanding options to purchase shares of the common stock of [Target], a
__________ corporation ("[Target]"), which were granted to Optionee under the
[Target] __________ Stock Plan (the "Plan") and are each evidenced by a Stock
Option Agreement (the "Option Agreement").

            WHEREAS, [Target] has been acquired by About.com through the merger
of [Target] with and into About.com (the "Merger") pursuant to the Agreement and
Plan of Reorganization, by and between About.com and [Target] (the "Merger
Agreement").

            WHEREAS, the provisions of the Merger Agreement require About.com to
assume all obligations of [Target] under all outstanding options under the Plan
at the consummation of the Merger and to issue to the holder of each outstanding
option an agreement evidencing the assumption of such option.

            WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of the Merger Agreement, the
exchange ratio (the "Exchange Ratio") in effect for the Merger is ______________
shares of About.com common stock ("About.com Stock") for each outstanding share
of [Target] common stock ("[Target] Stock").

            WHEREAS, this Agreement became effective immediately upon the
consummation of the Merger (the "Effective Time") in order to reflect certain
adjustments to Optionee's outstanding options which have become necessary by
reason of the assumption of those options by About.com in connection with the
Merger.

            NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby agreed as follows:

            1. The number of shares of [Target] Stock subject to the options
held by Optionee immediately prior to the Effective Time (the "[Target]
Options") and the exercise price payable per share are set forth below.
About.com hereby assumes, as of the Effective Time, all the duties and
obligations of [Target] under each of the [Target] Options. In connection with
such assumption, the number of shares of About.com Stock purchasable under each
[Target] Option hereby assumed and the exercise price payable thereunder have
been adjusted to reflect the Exchange Ratio. Accordingly, the number of shares
of About.com Stock subject to each [Target] Option hereby assumed shall be as
specified for that option below, and the adjusted
<PAGE>

exercise price payable per share of About.com Stock under the assumed [Target]
Option shall also be as indicated for that option below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         [TARGET] STOCK OPTIONS               ABOUT.COM ASSUMED OPTIONS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    # of Shares of      Exercise Price     # of Shares of       Adjusted
   [Target] Common        per Share       About.com Common   Exercise Price
        Stock                                  Stock            per Share
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                   <C>                   <C>                    <C>
<<[Target]_Shares>>   $<<[Target]_Price>>   <<About.com_Shares>>   $<<About.com_Price>>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

            2. The intent of the foregoing adjustments to each assumed [Target]
Option is to assure that the spread between the aggregate fair market value of
the shares of About.com Stock purchasable under each such option and the
aggregate exercise price as adjusted pursuant to this Agreement will,
immediately after the consummation of the Merger, be not less than the spread
which existed, immediately prior to the Merger, between the then aggregate fair
market value of the [Target] Stock subject to the [Target] Option and the
aggregate exercise price in effect at such time under the Option Agreement. Such
adjustments are also intended to preserve, immediately after the Merger, on a
per share basis, the same ratio of exercise price per option share to fair
market value per share which existed under the [Target] Option immediately prior
to the Merger.

            3. The following provisions shall govern each [Target] Option hereby
assumed by About.com:

                        (a) Unless the context otherwise requires, all
            references in each Option Agreement and, if applicable, in the Plan
            (as incorporated into such Option Agreement) (i) to the "Company"
            shall mean About.com, (ii) to "Share" shall mean share of About.com
            Stock, (iii) to the "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of
            About.com and (iv) to the "Committee" shall mean the Compensation
            Committee of the About.com Board of Directors.

                        (b) The grant date and the expiration date of each
            assumed [Target] Option and all other provisions which govern either
            the exercise or the termination of the assumed [Target] Option shall
            remain the same as set forth in the Option Agreement applicable to
            that option, and the provisions of the Option Agreement shall
            accordingly govern and control Optionee's rights under this
            Agreement to purchase About.com Stock.

                        (c) Your options assumed by About.com which were
            originally designated on your Notice of Grant as Incentive Options
            shall remain Incentive Stock Options to the maximum extent allowed
            by law.

                        (d) Pursuant to the terms of the Option Agreement, none
            of your options assumed by About.com in connection with the
            transaction will vest and become exercisable on an accelerated basis
            upon the consummation of the


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<PAGE>

            Merger. Each [Target] Option shall be assumed by About.com as of the
            Effective Time. Each such assumed [Target] Option shall thereafter
            continue to vest for any remaining unvested shares of About.com
            Stock subject to that option in accordance with the same installment
            vesting schedule in effect under the applicable Option Agreement
            immediately prior to the Effective Time; provided, however, that the
            number of shares subject to each such installment shall be adjusted
            to reflect the Exchange Ratio.

                        (e) For purposes of applying any and all provisions of
            the Option Agreement and/or the Plan relating to Optionee's status
            as an employee or a consultant of [Target], Optionee shall be deemed
            to continue in such status as an employee or a consultant for so
            long as Optionee renders services as an employee or a consultant to
            About.com or any present or future About.com subsidiary.
            Accordingly, the provisions of the Option Agreement governing the
            termination of the assumed [Target] Options upon Optionee's
            cessation of service as an employee or a consultant of [Target]
            shall hereafter be applied on the basis of Optionee's cessation of
            employee or consultant status with About.com and its subsidiaries,
            and each assumed [Target] Option shall accordingly terminate, within
            the designated time period in effect under the Option Agreement for
            that option, generally a three (3) month period, following such
            cessation of service as an employee or a consultant of About.com and
            its subsidiaries.

                        (f) The adjusted exercise price payable for the
            About.com Stock subject to each assumed [Target] Option shall be
            payable in any of the forms authorized under the Option Agreement
            applicable to that option. For purposes of determining the holding
            period of any shares of About.com Stock delivered in payment of such
            adjusted exercise price, the period for which such shares were held
            as [Target] Stock prior to the Merger shall be taken into account.

                        (g) In order to exercise each assumed [Target] Option,
            Optionee must deliver to About.com a written notice of exercise in
            which the number of shares of About.com Stock to be purchased
            thereunder must be indicated. The exercise notice must be
            accompanied by payment of the adjusted exercise price payable for
            the purchased shares of About.com Stock and should be delivered to
            About.com at the following address:

                              About.com, Inc.

                              _________________________

                              _________________________

                              Attention: Stock Administration

            4. Except to the extent specifically modified by this Option
Assumption Agreement, all of the terms and conditions of each Option Agreement
as in effect immediately prior to the Merger shall continue in full force and
effect and shall not in any way be amended, revised or otherwise affected by
this Stock Option Assumption Agreement.


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<PAGE>

            IN WITNESS WHEREOF, About.com, Inc. has caused this Stock Option
Assumption Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its duly-authorized officer
as of the _______ day of ______________, 2000.

                                    ABOUT.COM, INC.



                                    By:
                                          _____________________________
                                          Corporate Secretary


                                 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

            The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the foregoing Stock Option
Assumption Agreement and understands that all rights and liabilities with
respect to each of his or her [Target] Options hereby assumed by About.com are
as set forth in the Option Agreement, the Plan, as applicable, and such Stock
Option Assumption Agreement.


                                   _____________________________________________
                                   <<First_Name>> <<Last_Name>>, OPTIONEE


DATED: __________________, ________


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