EXHIBIT 5.1

                    Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.


                                 August 29, 2001



NetCurrents, Inc.
9720 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 700
Beverly Hills, California 90212

Ladies/Gentlemen:

         At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form
S-8 (the "Registration Statement") to which this letter is attached as Exhibit
5.1 filed by NetCurrents Information Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), in order to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.001 par value per share (the
"Shares"), of the Company issuable pursuant to that certain Consulting
Agreement, dated August 28, 2001, between the Company and Jack Burstein (the
"Plan").

         We are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized
and upon issuance and sale in conformity with and pursuant to the Plan, the
Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

         We consent to the use of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name in the Prospectus
constituting a part thereof.


                                 Respectfully submitted,


                                  /S/ AKIN, GUMP, STRAUSS, HAUER & FELD, L.L.P.
                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                 Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.