If memory serves, the internet before 1993 had an official policy via the NSF that all but forbid commercial use. No e-commerce, no advertising, etc.

Sure, folks set up trades and conducted private sales via Usenet and whatnot. I think it was kind of frowned upon in many places, though. But, overall, it's weird to think that at one point, the whole net was basically non-profit.

I think it was around 1993 that NSF started bringing in commercial network providers. By 1998, the core pieces of the net had gone private.