As of yesterday, Versity had set up Web sites for two dozen Harvard classes--mostly Core classes and popular large lectures--but only 14 of the sites include synopses of lectures. Versity is recruiting note-takers for another 70 or so more.

According to their Web site, Versity covers 3,500 classes on 88 campuses. They do not charge money to view the notes, but they do require that uers register for a username and password.

The sites boast vibrant colors and flashy layout, plus a synopsis of 500 words or so for each lecture. The Web site does carry advertisements for credit cards, Internet companies and other businesses that target college students.

Versity was established in 1998 by Jeff Lawson and three other enterprising undergraduates at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Last year the founders dropped out of university and moved to Menlo Park, Calif., to work full-time on their business.

Take Notes at Your Own Risk

Charles Berman says the company warns all its note-takers that their colleges' administrations may not agree with all of Versity's activities, and that they may suffer penalties or discipline. "Specifically, we absolutely tell people that some campuses find this controversial. We do not happen to agree with agree the policy" of the deans at Harvard, he says.

The penalties note-takers face may be grave indeed.

Harvard administrators point to page 302 of the Handbook for Students: "Students who sell lecture or reading notes, papers, or translations or who are employed by a tutoring school or term paper company [...] may be required to withdraw."