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1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan - Salon Internet Inc.

                             SALON INTERNET, INC.

                       1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

                   Adopted by the Board on            , 1999
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        1.  Establishment, Purpose and Term of Plan.
        --  --------------------------------------- 

                1.1 Establishment. This 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
'Plan') is hereby established effective as of the effective date of the initial
registration by the Company of its Stock under Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Effective Date').

                1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the interests
of Company and its shareholders by providing an incentive to attract, retain and
reward Eligible Employees of the Participating Company Group and by motivating
such persons to contribute to the growth and profitability of the Participating
Company Group. The Plan provides such Eligible Employees with an opportunity to
acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the purchase of Stock. The
Company intends that the Plan qualify as an 'employee stock purchase plan' under
Section 423 of the Code.

                1.3 Term of Plan. The Plan shall continue in effect until the
earlier of its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares
of Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been issued.

        2.  Definitions and Construction.
        --  ---------------------------- 

                2.1 Definitions. Any term not expressly defined in the Plan but
defined for purposes of Section 423 of the Code shall have the same definition
herein. Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have their respective
meanings set forth below:

                        (a) 'Board' means the Board of Directors of the Company.
If one or more Committees have been appointed by the Board to administer the
Plan, 'Board' also means such Committee(s).

                        (b) 'Code' means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.

                        (c) 'Committee' means a committee of the Board duly
appointed to administer the Plan and having such powers as shall be specified by
the Board. Unless the powers of the Committee have been specifically limited,
the Committee shall have all of the powers of the Board granted herein,
including, without limitation, the power to amend or terminate the Plan at any
time, subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by
law.

                        (d) 'Company' means Salon Internet, Inc., a California
corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.

                                       1

 
                        (e) 'Compensation' means, with respect to any Offering
Period, base wages or salary, commissions, overtime, bonuses, annual awards,
other incentive payments, shift premiums, and all other compensation paid in
cash during such Offering Period before deduction for any contributions to any
plan maintained by a Participating Company and described in Section 401(k) or
Section 125 of the Code. Compensation shall not include reimbursements of
expenses, allowances, long-term disability, workers' compensation or any amount
deemed received without the actual transfer of cash or any amounts directly or
indirectly paid pursuant to the Plan or any other stock purchase or stock option
plan, or any other compensation not included above.

                        (f) 'Eligible Employee' means an Employee who meets the
requirements set forth in Section 5 for eligibility to participate in the Plan.

                        (g) 'Employee' means a person treated as an employee of
a Participating Company for purposes of Section 423 of the Code. A Participant
shall be deemed to have ceased to be an Employee either upon an actual
termination of employment or upon the corporation employing the Participant
ceasing to be a Participating Company. For purposes of the Plan, an individual
shall not be deemed to have ceased to be an Employee while such individual is on
any military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence approved by
the Company of ninety (90) days or less. In the event an individual's leave of
absence exceeds ninety (90) days, the individual shall be deemed to have ceased
to be an Employee on the ninety-first (91st) day of such leave unless the
individual's right to reemployment with the Participating Company Group is
guaranteed either by statute or by contract. The Company shall determine in good
faith and in the exercise of its discretion whether an individual has become or
has ceased to be an Employee and the effective date of such individual's
employment or termination of employment, as the case may be. For purposes of an
individual's participation in or other rights, if any, under the Plan as of the
time of the Company's determination, all such determinations by the Company
shall be final, binding and conclusive, notwithstanding that the Company or any
governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary determination.
                
                        (h) 'Fair Market Value' means, as of any date, if there
is then a public market for the Stock, the closing price of a share of Stock (or
the mean of the closing bid and asked prices if the Stock is so quoted instead)
as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap Market or such
other national or regional securities exchange or market system constituting the
primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such
                                             ----------------------- 
other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date does not fall
on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange or market
system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established shall be
the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant date, or
such other appropriate day as shall be determined by the Board, in its
discretion. If, as of any date, there is then no public market for the Stock,
the Fair Market Value on any relevant date shall be as determined by the Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on the
Effective Date shall be deemed to be the public offering price set forth in the
final prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
with the initial public offering of the Stock.

                        (i) 'Offering' means an offering of Stock as provided in
Section 6. 

                                       2

 
                        (j) 'Offering Date' mea ns, for any Offering, the first
day of the Offering Period with respect to such Offering.

                        (k) 'Offering Period' means a period established in
accordance with Section 6.1.

                        (l) 'Parent Corporation' means any present or future
'parent corporation' of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the
Code.

                        (m) 'Participant' means an Eligible Employee who has
become a participant in an Offering Period in accordance with Section 7 and
remains a participant in accordance with the Plan.

                        (n) 'Participating Company' means the Company or any
Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation designated by the Board as a
corporation the Employees of which may, if Eligible Employees, participate in
the Plan. The Board shall have the sole and absolute discretion to determine
from time to time which Parent Corporations or Subsidiary Corporations shall be
Participating Companies.

                        (o) 'Participating Company Group' means, at any point in
time, the Company and all other corporations collectively which are then
Participating Companies.

                        (p) 'Purchase Date' means the last day of an Offering
Period (or Purchase Period, if so determined by the Board).

                        (q) 'Purchase Period' means a period, if any,
established in accordance with Section 6.2.

                        (r) 'Purchase Price' means the price at which a share of
Stock may be purchased under the Plan, as determined in accordance with
Section 9.

                        (s) 'Purchase Right' means an option granted to a
Participant pursuant to the Plan to purchase such shares of Stock as provided in
Section 8, which the Participant may or may not exercise during the Offering
Period in which such option is outstanding. Such option arises from the right of
a Participant to withdraw any accumulated payroll deductions of the Participant
not previously applied to the purchase of Stock under the Plan and to terminate
participation in the Plan at any time during an Offering Period.

                        (t) 'Stock' means the common stock of the Company, as
adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.

                        (u) 'Subscription Agreement' means a written agreement
in such form as specified by the Company, stating an Employee's election to
participate in the Plan and authorizing payroll deductions under the Plan
from the Employee's Compensation.

                        (v) 'Subscription Date' means the last business day
prior to an Offering Date or such other date as the Company shall establish.

                                       3

 
                        (w) 'Subsidiary Corporation' means any present or future
'subsidiary corporation' of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of
the Code.

                2.2 Construction. Captions and titles contained herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any
provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use
of the term 'or' is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.

        3.  Administration.
        --  -------------- 

                3.1 Administration by the Board. The Plan shall be administered
by the Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan, of any form of
agreement or other document employed by the Company in the administration of the
Plan, or of any Purchase Right shall be determined by the Board and shall be
final and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or the
Purchase Right. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine
all of the relevant terms and conditions of Purchase Rights granted pursuant to
the Plan; provided, however, that all Participants granted Purchase Rights
pursuant to the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges within the
meaning of Section 423(b)(5) of the Code. All expenses incurred in connection
with the administration of the Plan shall be paid by the Company.

                3.2 Authority of Officers. Any officer of the Company shall have
the authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right,
obligation, determination or election that is the responsibility of or that is
allocated to the Company herein, provided that the officer has apparent
authority with respect to such matter, right, obligation, determination or
election.

                3.3 Policies and Procedures Established by the Company. The
Company may, from time to time, consistent with the Plan and the requirements of
Section 423 of the Code, establish, change or terminate such rules, guidelines,
policies, procedures, limitations, or adjustments as deemed advisable by the
Company, in its sole discretion, for the proper administration of the Plan,
including, without limitation, (a) a minimum payroll deduction amount required
for participation in an Offering, (b) a limitation on the frequency or number of
changes permitted in the rate of payroll deduction during an Offering, (c) an
exchange ratio applicable to amounts withheld in a currency other than United
States dollars, (d) a payroll deduction greater than or less than the amount
designated by a Participant in order to adjust for the Company's delay or
mistake in processing a Subscription Agreement or in otherwise effecting a
Participant's election under the Plan or as advisable to comply with the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code, and (e) determination of the date and
manner by which the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock is determined for
purposes of administration of the Plan.

        4.  Shares Subject to Plan.
        --  ---------------------- 

                4.1 Maximum Number of Shares Issuable. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that
may be issued under the Plan shall be one million (1,000,000), cumulatively
increased on June 1, 2000 and each June 1 thereafter until and including June 1,
2009 by an amount equal to the lesser of (a) Five 

                                       4

 
Hundred Thousand (500,000) shares or (b) a lesser amount of shares determined by
the Board, and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of
Stock, or any combination thereof. If an outstanding Purchase Right for any
reason expires or is terminated or canceled, the shares of Stock allocable to
the unexercised portion of such Purchase Right shall again be available for
issuance under the Plan.

                4.2 Adjustments for Changes in Capital Structure. In the event
of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the
Company, or in the event of any merger (including a merger effected for the
purpose of changing the Company's domicile), sale of assets or other
reorganization in which the Company is a party, appropriate adjustments shall be
made in the number and class of shares subject to the Plan and each Purchase
Right and in the Purchase Price. If a majority of the shares which are of the
same class as the shares that are subject to outstanding Purchase Rights are
exchanged for, converted into, or otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to
an Ownership Change Event) shares of another corporation (the 'New Shares'), the
Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding Purchase Rights to provide that
such Purchase Rights are exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any such
amendment, the number of shares subject to, and the Purchase Price of, the
outstanding Purchase Rights shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner, as
determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2
shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the
Purchase Price be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any, of the
stock subject to the Purchase Right. The adjustments determined by the Board
pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be final, binding and conclusive.

        5.  Eligibility.
        --  ----------- 

                5.1 Employees Eligible to Participate. Each Employee of a
Participating Company is eligible to participate in the Plan and shall be deemed
an Eligible Employee, except the following:

                        (a) Any Employee who is customarily employed by the
Participating Company Group for less than twenty (20) hours per week; or

                        (b) Any Employee who is customarily employed by the
Participating Company Group for not more than five (5) months in any calendar
year.

                5.2 Exclusion of Certain Shareholders. Notwithstanding any
provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Employee shall be granted a Purchase
Right under the Plan if, immediately after such grant, such Employee would own
or hold options to purchase stock of the Company or of any Parent Corporation or
Subsidiary Corporation possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total
combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of such corporation, as
determined in accordance with Section 423(b)(3) of the Code. For purposes of
this Section 5.2, the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code shall
apply in determining the stock ownership of such Employee.

                                       5

 
        6.  Offerings.
        --  --------- 

                6.1 Offering Periods. The Plan shall be implemented by
sequential Offerings (an 'Offering Period'). The first Offering Period shall
commence on the Effective Date and end on January 31, 2000 (the 'Initial
Offering Period'). Subsequent Offerings shall commence on the first day of
February and August of each year and end on the last day of July and January,
respectively, occurring thereafter, and will have a duration of approximately
six (6) months.

                6.2 Purchase Periods. If the Board so determines, in its
discretion, each Offering Period may consist of two (2) or more consecutive
Purchase Periods having such duration as the Board shall specify, and the last
day of each such Purchase Period shall be a Purchase Date.

                6.3 Discretion to Vary Duration. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Board may establish a different duration for one or more Offering Periods or
Purchase Periods or different commencing or ending dates for such periods;
provided, however, that no Offering Period may have a duration exceeding twenty-
seven (27) months. If the first or last day of an Offering Period or a Purchase
Period is not a day on which the national securities exchanges or Nasdaq Stock
Market are open for trading, the Company shall specify the trading day that will
be deemed the first or last day, as the case may be, of the period.

        7.  Participation in the Plan.
        --  ------------------------- 

                7.1 Initial Participation. An Eligible Employee may become a
Participant in an Offering Period by delivering a properly completed
Subscription Agreement to the Company not later than the close of business for
such office on the Subscription Date established by the Company for the
applicable Offering Date. An Eligible Employee who does not deliver a properly
completed Subscription Agreement to the Company's designated office on or before
the Subscription Date shall not participate in that Offering Period or any
subsequent Offering Period unless such Eligible Employee subsequently delivers a
properly completed Subscription Agreement to the appropriate office of the
Company on or before the Subscription Date for such subsequent Offering Period.
An Employee who becomes an Eligible Employee after the Offering Date of an
Offering Period (other than the Initial Offering Period) shall not be eligible
to participate in such Offering Period but may participate in any subsequent
Offering Period provided such Employee is still an Eligible Employee as of the
Offering Date of such subsequent Offering Period.

                7.2 Continued Participation. A Participant shall automatically
participate in the next Offering Period commencing immediately after the final
Purchase Date of each Offering Period in which the Participant participates
provided that such Participant remains an Eligible Employee on the Offering Date
of the new Offering Period and has not either (a) withdrawn from the Plan, or
(b) terminated employment as provided in Section 13. A Participant who may
automatically participate in a subsequent Offering Period, as provided in this
Section, is not required to deliver any additional Subscription Agreement for
the subsequent Offering Period in order to continue participation in the Plan.
However, a Participant may deliver a new Subscription Agreement for a subsequent
Offering Period in accordance with the procedures set

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forth in Section 7.1 if the Participant desires to change any of the elections
contained in the Participant's then effective Subscription Agreement.

        8.  Right to Purchase Shares.
        --  ------------------------ 

                8.1 Grant of Purchase Right. Except as set forth below, on the
Offering Date of each Offering Period, each Participant in such Offering Period
shall be granted automatically, on the Offering Date, a Purchase Right
consisting of an option to purchase, on each Purchase Date within such Offering
Period, that number of whole shares of Stock determined by dividing the
aggregate payroll deductions collected from the Participant by the applicable
Purchase Price on such Purchase Date; provided, that no Participant may purchase
more than two thousand (2,000) shares of Stock on any Purchase Date.

                8.2 Calendar Year Purchase Limitation. Notwithstanding any
provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant shall be granted a
Purchase Right which permits his or her right to purchase shares of Stock under
the Plan to accrue at a rate which, when aggregated with such Participant's
rights to purchase shares under all other employee stock purchase plans of a
Participating Company intended to meet the requirements of Section 423 of the
Code, exceeds Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in Fair Market Value (or
such other limit, if any, as may be imposed by the Code) for each calendar year
in which such Purchase Right is outstanding at any time. For purposes of the
preceding sentence, the Fair Market Value of shares purchased during a given
Offering Period shall be determined as of the Offering Date for such Offering
Period. The limitation described in this Section shall be applied in conformance
with applicable regulations under Section 423(b)(8) of the Code.

        9.  Purchase Price.
        --  -------------- 

          The Purchase Price at which each share of Stock may be acquired in an
Offering Period upon the exercise of all or any portion of a Purchase Right
shall be established by the Board; provided, however, that the Purchase Price
shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the lesser of (a) the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock on the Offering Date of the Offering Period or
(b) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Purchase Date.  Unless
otherwise provided by the Board prior to the commencement of an Offering Period,
the Purchase Price for that Offering Period shall be eighty-five percent (85%)
of the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the Offering
Date of the Offering Period, or (b) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on
the Purchase Date.

        10.  Accumulation of Purchase Price through Payroll Deduction.
        ---  -------------------------------------------------------- 

          Shares of Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of all or any
portion of a Purchase Right may be paid for only by means of payroll deductions
from the Participant's Compensation accumulated during the Offering Period for
which such Purchase Right was granted, subject to the following:

        10.1 Amount of Payroll Deductions. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the amount to be deducted under the Plan from a Participant's Compensation on
each payday during an Offering Period (after the Offering Date) shall be
determined by the Participant's Subscription

                                       7

 
Agreement. The Subscription Agreement shall set forth the percentage of the
Participant's Compensation to be deducted on each payday during an Offering
Period (after the Offering Date) in whole percentages of not less than one
percent (1%) (except as a result of an election pursuant to Section 10.3 to stop
payroll deductions made effective following the first payday during an Offering
after the Offering Date) or more than ten percent (10%). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Board may change the limits on payroll deductions effective as of
any future Offering Date.

        10.2 Commencement of Payroll Deductions. Payroll deductions shall
commence on the first payday following the Offering Date and shall continue to
the end of the Offering Period unless sooner altered or terminated as provided
herein.

        10.3 Election to Change or Stop Payroll Deductions. During an Offering
Period, a Participant may elect to increase or decrease the rate of or to stop
deductions from his or her Compensation by delivering to the Company an amended
Subscription Agreement authorizing such change on or before the 'Change Notice
Date.' The 'Change Notice Date' shall be a date prior to the beginning of the
first pay period for which such election is to be effective as established by
the Company from time to time and announced to the Participants. A Participant
who elects to decrease the rate of his or her payroll deductions to zero percent
(0%) shall nevertheless remain a Participant in the current Offering Period
unless such Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Section 12.1.

        10.4 Administrative Suspension of Payroll Deductions. The Company may,
in its sole discretion, suspend a Participant's payroll deductions under the
Plan as the Company deems advisable to avoid accumulating payroll deductions in
excess of the amount that could reasonably be anticipated to purchase the
maximum number of shares of Stock permitted during a calendar year under the
limit set forth in Section 8.2. Payroll deductions shall be resumed at the rate
specified in the Participant's then effective Subscription Agreement at the
beginning of the next Offering Period the Purchase Date of which falls in the
following calendar year.

        10.5 Participant Accounts. Individual bookkeeping accounts shall be
maintained for each Participant. All payroll deductions from a Participant's
Compensation shall be credited to such Participant's Plan account and shall be
deposited with the general funds of the Company. All payroll deductions received
or held by the Company may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose.

        10.6 No Interest Paid. Interest shall not be paid on sums deducted from
a Participant's Compensation pursuant to the Plan.

        10.7 Voluntary Withdrawal from Plan Account. A Participant may withdraw
all or any portion of the payroll deductions credited to his or her Plan account
and not previously applied toward the purchase of Stock by delivering to the
Company a written notice on a form provided by the Company for such purpose. A
Participant who withdraws the entire remaining balance credited to his or her
Plan account shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Plan in accordance with
Section 12.1. Amounts withdrawn shall be returned to the Participant as soon as
practicable after the withdrawal and may not be applied to the purchase of

                                       8

 
shares in any Offering under the Plan. The Company may from time to time
establish or change limitations on the frequency of withdrawals permitted under
this Section, establish a minimum dollar amount that must be retained in the
Participant's Plan account, or terminate the withdrawal right provided by this
Section.

        11.  Purchase of Shares.
        ---  ------------------ 

                11.1 Exercise of Purchase Right. On each Purchase Date, each
Participant who has not withdrawn from the Plan and whose participation in the
Offering has not terminated before such Purchase Date shall automatically
acquire pursuant to the exercise of the Participant's Purchase Right the number
of whole shares of Stock determined by dividing (a) the total amount of the
Participant's payroll deductions accumulated in the Participant's Plan account
during the Offering Period and not previously applied toward the purchase of
Stock by (b) the Purchase Price. No shares of Stock shall be purchased on a
Purchase Date on behalf of a Participant whose participation in the Offering or
the Plan has terminated before such Purchase Date.

                11.2 Pro Rata Allocation of Shares. In the event that the number
of shares of Stock which might be purchased by all Participants in the Plan on a
Purchase Date exceeds the number of shares of Stock available in the Plan as
provided in Section 4.1, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the
remaining shares in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as the
Company shall determine to be equitable. Any fractional share resulting from
such pro rata allocation to any Participant shall be disregarded.

                11.3 Delivery of Certificates. As soon as practicable after each
Purchase Date, the Company shall arrange the delivery to each Participant, as
appropriate, of a certificate representing the shares acquired by the
Participant on such Purchase Date; provided that the Company may deliver such
shares to a broker that holds such shares in street name for the benefit of the
Participant. Shares to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan shall be
registered in the name of the Participant, or, if requested by the Participant,
in the name of the Participant and his or her spouse, or, if applicable, in the
names of the heirs of the Participant.

                11.4 Return of Cash Balance. Any cash balance remaining in a
Participant's Plan account following any Purchase Date shall be refunded to the
Participant as soon as practicable after such Purchase Date. However, if the
cash to be returned to a Participant pursuant to the preceding sentence is an
amount less than the amount that would have been necessary to purchase an
additional whole share of Stock on such Purchase Date, the Company may retain
such amount in the Participant's Plan account to be applied toward the purchase
of shares of Stock in the subsequent Offering Period (or Purchase Period, if
applicable).

                11.5 Tax Withholding. At the time a Participant's Purchase Right
is exercised, in whole or in part, or at the time a Participant disposes of some
or all of the shares of Stock he or she acquires under the Plan, the Participant
shall make adequate provision for the foreign, federal, state and local tax
withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group, if any, which arise
upon exercise of the Purchase Right or upon such disposition of shares,

                                       9

 
respectively. The Participating Company Group may, but shall not be obligated
to, withhold from the Participant's compensation the amount necessary to meet
such withholding obligations.

                11.6 Expiration of Purchase Right. Any portion of a
Participant's Purchase Right remaining unexercised after the end of the Offering
Period to which the Purchase Right relates shall expire immediately upon the end
of the Offering Period.

                11.7 Reports to Participants. Each Participant who has exercised
all or part of his or her Purchase Right shall receive, as soon as practicable
after the Purchase Date, a report of such Participant's Plan account setting
forth the total payroll deductions accumulated prior to such exercise, the
number of shares of Stock purchased, the Purchase Price for such shares, the
date of purchase and the cash balance, if any, remaining immediately after such
purchase that is to be refunded or retained in the Participant's Plan account
pursuant to Section 11.4. The report required by this Section may be delivered
in such form and by such means, including by electronic transmission, as the
Company may determine.

        12.  Withdrawal from Offering or Plan.
        ---  -------------------------------- 

                12.1 Voluntary Withdrawal from the Plan. A Participant may
withdraw from the Plan by signing and delivering to the Company a written notice
of withdrawal on a form provided by the Company for such purpose. Such
withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of an Offering Period. A
Participant who voluntarily withdraws from the Plan is prohibited from resuming
participation in the Plan in the same Offering from which he or she withdrew,
but may participate in any subsequent Offering by again satisfying the
requirements of Sections 5 and 7.1. The Company may impose a requirement that
the notice of withdrawal from the Plan be on file with the Company for a
reasonable period prior to the effectiveness of the Participant's withdrawal.

                12.2 Return of Payroll Deductions. Upon a Participant's
voluntary withdrawal from the Plan pursuant to Section 12.1, the Participant's
accumulated payroll deductions which have not been applied toward the purchase
of shares of Stock shall be refunded to the Participant as soon as practicable
after the withdrawal, without the payment of any interest, and the Participant's
interest in the Plan shall terminate. Such accumulated payroll deductions to be
refunded in accordance with this Section may not be applied to any other
Offering under the Plan.

        13.  Termination of Employment or Eligibility.
        ---  ---------------------------------------- 

          Upon a Participant's ceasing, prior to a Purchase Date, to be an
Employee of the Participating Company Group for any reason, including
retirement, disability or death, or the failure of a Participant to remain an
Eligible Employee, the Participant's participation in the Plan shall terminate
immediately. In such event, the payroll deductions credited to the Participant's
Plan account since the last Purchase Date shall, as soon as practicable, be
returned to the Participant or, in the case of the Participant's death, to the
Participant's legal representative, and all of the Participant's rights under
the Plan shall terminate. Interest shall not be paid on sums returned pursuant
to this Section 13. A Participant whose participation has been so terminated

                                       10

 
may again become eligible to participate in the Plan by again satisfying the
requirements of Sections 5 and 7.1.

        14.  Change in Control.
        ---  ----------------- 

                14.1  Definitions.
                        
                        (a) An 'Ownership Change Event' shall be deemed to have
occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company: (i) the
direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related
transactions by the shareholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%)
of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the
Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.

                        (b) A 'Change in Control' shall mean an Ownership Change
Event or a series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, the
'Transaction') wherein the shareholders of the Company immediately before the
Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock
immediately before the Transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
outstanding voting stock of the Company or the corporation or corporations to
which the assets of the Company were transferred (the 'Transferee
Corporation(s)'), as the case may be. For purposes of the preceding sentence,
indirect beneficial ownership shall include, without limitation, an interest
resulting from ownership of the voting stock of one or more corporations which,
as a result of the Transaction, own the Company or the Transferee
Corporation(s), as the case may be, either directly or through one or more
subsidiary corporations. The Board shall have the right to determine whether
multiple sales or exchanges of the voting stock of the Company or multiple
Ownership Change Events are related, and its determination shall be final,
binding and conclusive.

                14.2 Effect of Change in Control on Purchase Rights. In the
event of a Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or
purchasing corporation or parent corporation thereof, as the case may be (the
'Acquiring Corporation'), may assume the Company's rights and obligations under
the Plan. If the Acquiring Corporation elects not to assume the Company's rights
and obligations under outstanding Purchase Rights, the Purchase Date of the then
current Offering Period shall be accelerated to a date before the date of the
Change in Control specified by the Board, but the number of shares of Stock
subject to outstanding Purchase Rights shall not be adjusted. All Purchase
Rights which are neither assumed by the Acquiring Corporation in connection with
the Change in Control nor exercised as of the date of the Change in Control
shall terminate and cease to be outstanding effective as of the date of the
Change in Control.

        15.  Nontransferability of Purchase Rights.
        ---  ------------------------------------- 

          A Purchase Right may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than
by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during
the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.

                                       11

 
        16.  Compliance with Securities Law.
        ---  ------------------------------ 

          The issuance of shares under the Plan shall be subject to compliance
with all applicable requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect
to such securities.  A Purchase Right may not be exercised if the issuance of
shares upon such exercise would constitute a violation of any applicable
federal, state or foreign securities laws or other law or regulations or the
requirements of any securities exchange or market system upon which the Stock
may then be listed.  In addition, no Purchase Right may be exercised unless (a)
a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall at
the time of exercise of the Purchase Right be in effect with respect to the
shares issuable upon exercise of the Purchase Right, or (b) in the opinion of
legal counsel to the Company, the shares issuable upon exercise of the Purchase
Right may be issued in accordance with the terms of an applicable exemption from
the registration requirements of said Act.  The inability of the Company to
obtain from any regulatory body having jurisdiction the authority, if any,
deemed by the Company's legal counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and
sale of any shares under the Plan shall relieve the Company of any liability in
respect of the failure to issue or sell such shares as to which such requisite
authority shall not have been obtained.  As a condition to the exercise of a
Purchase Right, the Company may require the Participant to satisfy any
qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to evidence compliance with
any applicable law or regulation, and to make any representation or warranty
with respect thereto as may be requested by the Company.

        17.  Rights as a Shareholder and Employee.
        ---  ------------------------------------ 

          A Participant shall have no rights as a shareholder by virtue of the
Participant's participation in the Plan until the date of the issuance of a
certificate for the shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of the
Participant's Purchase Right (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books
of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company).  No
adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which
the record date is prior to the date such certificate is issued, except as
provided in Section 4.2.  Nothing herein shall confer upon a Participant any
right to continue in the employ of the Participating Company Group or interfere
in any way with any right of the Participating Company Group to terminate the
Participant's employment at any time.

        18.  Legends.
        ---  ------- 

          The Company may at any time place legends or other identifying symbols
referencing any applicable federal, state or foreign securities law restrictions
or any provision convenient in the administration of the Plan on some or all of
the certificates representing shares of Stock issued under the Plan.  The
Participant shall, at the request of the Company, promptly present to the
Company any and all certificates representing shares acquired pursuant to a
Purchase Right in the possession of the Participant in order to carry out the
provisions of this Section.  Unless otherwise specified by the Company, legends
placed on such certificates may include but shall not be limited to the
following:

                                       12

 
          'THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ISSUED BY THE
CORPORATION TO THE REGISTERED HOLDER UPON THE PURCHASE OF SHARES UNDER AN
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN AS DEFINED IN SECTION 423 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE
CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED.  THE TRANSFER AGENT FOR THE SHARES EVIDENCED HEREBY
SHALL NOTIFY THE CORPORATION IMMEDIATELY OF ANY TRANSFER OF THE SHARES BY THE
REGISTERED HOLDER HEREOF.  THE REGISTERED HOLDER SHALL HOLD ALL SHARES PURCHASED
UNDER THE PLAN IN THE REGISTERED HOLDER'S NAME (AND NOT IN THE NAME OF ANY
NOMINEE).'

        19.  Notification of Sale of Shares.
        ---  ------------------------------ 

          The Company may require the Participant to give the Company prompt
notice of any disposition of shares acquired by exercise of a Purchase Right
within two (2) years from the date of granting such Purchase Right or one (1)
year from the date of exercise of such Purchase Right.  The Company may require
that until such time as a Participant disposes of shares acquired upon exercise
of a Purchase Right, the Participant shall hold all such shares in the
Participant's name (or, if elected by the Participant, in the name of the
Participant and his or her spouse but not in the name of any nominee) until the
lapse of the time periods with respect to such Purchase Right referred to in the
preceding sentence.  The Company may direct that the certificates evidencing
shares acquired by exercise of a Purchase Right refer to such requirement to
give prompt notice of disposition.

        20.  Notices.
        ---  ------- 

          All notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company
under or in connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given
when received in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the
person, designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.

        21.  Indemnification.
        ---  --------------- 

          In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have
as members of the Board or officers or employees of the Participating Company
Group, members of the Board and any officers or employees of the Participating
Company Group to whom authority to act for the Board or the Company is delegated
shall be indemnified by the Company against all reasonable expenses, including
attorneys' fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the
defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal
therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action
taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any right
granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof
(provided such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by
the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action,
suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be
adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross
negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however,
that within sixty (60) days after the institution of such action, suit or

                                       13

 
proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity
at its own expense to handle and defend the same.

        22.  Amendment or Termination of the Plan.
        ---  ------------------------------------ 

          The Board may at any time amend or terminate the Plan, except that (a)
such termination shall not affect Purchase Rights previously granted under the
Plan, provided that the Board may terminate the Plan (and any Offering
thereunder) on any Purchase Date if the Board determines that such termination
is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders except as permitted
under the Plan, and (b) no amendment may adversely affect a Purchase Right
previously granted under the Plan (except to the extent permitted by the Plan or
as may be necessary to qualify the Plan as an employee stock purchase plan
pursuant to Section 423 of the Code or to obtain qualification or registration
of the shares of Stock under applicable federal, state or foreign securities
laws).  In addition, an amendment to the Plan must be approved by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months of the adoption of such
amendment if such amendment would authorize the sale of more shares than are
authorized for issuance under the Plan or would change the definition of the
corporations that may be designated by the Board as Participating Companies.

                                       14

 
                             SALON INTERNET, INC.
                       1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT


NAME (Please print):
____________________________________________________________________
               (Last)               (First)           (Middle)
ADDRESS:
_______________________________________________________________________

MY SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER:
______________________________________________________

[ ]   Original Application for the Offering Period beginning
      ___________________, 199__.

[ ]   Change in Payroll Deduction rate effective with the pay period ending
      ___________________, 199__.

     I hereby elect to participate in the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
'Plan') of Salon Internet, Inc. (the 'Company') and subscribe to purchase shares
of the Company's Stock in accordance with this Subscription Agreement and the
Plan.

     I hereby authorize payroll deductions in the amount of ________ percent (in
whole percentages not less than 1% or more than 10%) of my 'Compensation' on
each payday throughout the 'Offering Period' in accordance with the Plan.  I
understand that these payroll deductions will be accumulated for the purchase of
shares of Stock at the applicable purchase price determined in accordance with
the Plan.  I understand that, except as otherwise provided by the Plan, I will
automatically purchase shares on each Purchase Date under the Plan unless I
withdraw from the Plan by giving written notice on a form provided by the
Company or unless my employment terminates.

     I understand that I will automatically participate in each subsequent
Offering that commences immediately after the last day of an Offering in which I
am participating until I withdraw from the Plan by giving written notice on a
form provided by the Company or my employment terminates.

     Shares I purchase under the Plan should be issued in the name(s) set forth
below.  (Shares may be issued in the participant's name alone or together with
the participant's spouse as community property or in joint tenancy.)

     NAME(S):
_______________________________________________________________________

      [ ] In my name alone  [ ] Community Property  [ ] Joint Tenancy

     I agree to make adequate provision for the federal, state, local and
foreign tax withholding obligations, if any, which may arise upon my purchase of
shares under the Plan and/or my disposition of such shares.  The Company may,
but will not be obligated to, withhold from my compensation the amount necessary
to meet such withholding obligations.

     I agree that while I hold shares acquired under the Plan, unless otherwise
permitted by the Company, I will hold such shares in the name(s) entered above
(and not in the name of any nominee).  This restriction only applies to the
name(s) in which shares are held and does not affect my ability to dispose of
                                          ---                                
Plan shares.

     The tax treatment of a disposition of Plan shares (including a gift)
depends on when the disposition occurs.  I agree that I will notify the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company in writing within 30 days after any disposition
of Plan shares that occurs within 2 years after the Offering Date or 1 year
                                                                  --       
after the Purchase Date (a 'Disqualifying Disposition').  I further agree that
if I do not respond within 30 days to a Company survey delivered to me
requesting information about a possible Disqualifying Disposition, the Company
may (1) treat my nonresponse as my notice to the Company that a Disqualifying
Disposition occurred, and (2) report the ordinary income I must recognize as a
result of the Disqualifying Disposition to the Internal Revenue Service.

     I am familiar with the provisions of the Plan and agree to participate in
the Plan subject to all of its provisions.  I understand that the Board of
Directors of the Company reserves the right to terminate the Plan or to amend
the Plan and my right to purchase stock under the Plan to the extent provided by
the Plan.  I understand that the effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is
dependent upon my eligibility to participate in the Plan.


Date: _______________________    Signature:_____________________________________
                              

                                       15

 
                             SALON INTERNET, INC.
                       1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
                              NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL


NAME (Please print):
____________________________________________________________________
               (Last)               (First)           (Middle)

     I hereby elect to withdraw from the Offering under Salon Internet, Inc.
1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the 'Plan') which began on
_________________________, 19____ and in which I am currently participating (the
'Current Offering').

     Elect either A or B below:

[ ]   A.  I elect to terminate immediately my participation in the Current
          Offering and in the Plan.

          I request that the Company cease all further payroll deductions from
          my Compensation under the Plan (provided that I have given
          sufficient notice prior to the next payday). I request that all
          payroll deductions credited to my account under the Plan (if any)
          not previously used to purchase shares under the Plan shall not be
                                                                      --- 
          used to purchase shares on the Purchase Date of the Current Offering.
          Instead, I request that all such amounts be paid to me as soon as
          practicable. I understand that this election immediately terminates my
          interest in the Current Offering and in the Plan.

[ ]   B.  I elect to terminate my participation in the Current Offering and in
          the Plan following my purchase of shares on Purchase Date of the
          Current Offering.

          I request that the Company cease all further payroll deductions from
          my Compensation under the Plan (provided that I have given sufficient
          notice prior to the next payday).  I request that all payroll
          deductions credited to my account under the Plan (if any) not
          previously used to purchase shares under the Plan shall be used to
          purchase shares on the Purchase Date of the Current Offering to the
          extent permitted by the Plan.  I understand that this election will
          terminate my interest in the Current Offering and in the Plan
          immediately following such purchase.  I request that any cash balance
          remaining in my account under the Plan after my purchase of shares be
          paid to me as soon as practicable.

     I understand that by making this election I am terminating my interest in
the Plan and that no further payroll deductions will be made (provided that I
have given sufficient notice prior to the next payday) unless I elect in
accordance with the Plan to become a participant in another Offering under the
Plan by filing a new Subscription Agreement with the Company.


Date:                                   Signature:
      ------------------------------              ------------------------------

                                       16


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