AGRICOLA IND 92017550; Presented at the VIII World Congress of IAALD, May, 1990, Budapest, Hungary, The market for literature information services is ruled by supra-professional services, a part of them being produced in the framework of international cooperation. Specialized services are still offered with an increasing tendency. These series aim at certain needs of certain groups of users or certain fields. the question is discussed how such services can win recognition on a market with growing competition? What are their advantages and disadvantages? What conditions have to be fulfilled to be accepted by the user? What marketing problems do these databases have? The database PHYTOMED, which is a specialized database on phytomedicine, serves as an example.