AudioSoft Enters Into Development Agreement With RealNetworks To Integrate RealSystem G2 Technology

AudioSoft, the worldwide leader in Internet based digital copyright management for the music industry, has signed a development agreement with RealNetworks (NASDAQ:RNWK). In a major move to provide webcasters, copyright collection societies and copyright holders with an automated declaration and reporting service, AudioSoft will integrate its digital copyright management technology onto the RealSystem G2 platform for ready deployment to webcasters worldwide.

AudioSoft's service greatly simplifies declaration processes of the webcasters and provides both accurate and real time reporting of playlists for the copyright collection societies. With the initial implementation, AudioSoft will provide a base level service free of charge to webcasters. Working with copyright collection societies worldwide, AudioSoft will ensure that the new system meets the music industry reporting requirements and the territory based diversities that copyright collection societies must address to support the rights holders of music in the Internet space.

Phil Barrett, Senior Vice President of Media Technologies, RealNetworks, Inc. said "We have always focused on making the best content available worldwide while respecting the various national practices and laws that govern usage of copyrighted works. We are happy to be working with AudioSoft, whose core mission is to provide infrastructure solutions for the music industry in the digital age."

"We're pleased to be working with RealNetworks, the recognized leader in streaming media and digital delivery of music, on this most timely and needed solution within the music industry," said Gary Ludlow, Vice President and General Manager of the Americas at AudioSoft. "This agreement is a key step forward, both for AudioSoft and the music industry, as it addresses a fundamental dilemma surrounding the Internet and streamed audio. Our technology provides the Internet linchpin that connects copyrighted content usage, on a worldwide basis, with the appropriate copyright holders. AudioSoft's technology is the answer to concerns of copyright holders surrounding the streaming of their copyrighted musical works over the Internet."

AudioSoft's flagship product, the "AudioSoft Rights Management System," will allow RealSystem G2 webcasters to provide accurate copyright usage information to copyright collection societies and music labels on a worldwide basis. This information is essential for the proper allocation and payment of royalties to each country's copyright collection society and ultimately the publishers they represent. The AudioSoft Rights Management System is the first of a number of planned service offerings to be announced during 2000, enabling a new opportunity to streamline and automate many otherwise arduous processes associated with playlist declarations by webcasters and usage tracking and consolidation reports among copyright collection societies around the world.