Abstract: A system and method for distributed knowledge management. In one embodiment, the system includes a hosted application through which an entity administers a knowledge base (KB). An entity can be, for example, a manufacturer or a reseller of any kind. Administering a KB includes receiving a request for a knowledge item from a user of the system. A user can be an entity or a customer of an entity. Administering further includes responding to the request, which involves accessing knowledge items in at least one of multiple KBs that may be administered by multiple entities. Administering further includes publishing the request, which includes making the request and a response to the request selectively available to different users of the system based upon different levels of privilege assigned to each of the users of the system.