Press Release

SoftBook Press First to Provide eBook Publishing System with Full Compliance to Open eBook Specification
Publishing, Distribution and Reading Products all comply with new Open eBook specification.

GAITHERSBURG, MD., September 21, 1999 - SoftBook® Press, Inc. today announced that its complete line of products and services is in full compliance with the Open eBook specification, which today has been finalized and released to the public. As a founding member of the Open eBook Group, SoftBook Press was able to ensure that its products and services met the Open eBook specification as it was developing. The Open eBook-compliant product family includes Publishing Tools, Internet-based distribution services and the award-winning SoftBook Reader that enables widespread adoption of digital publishing for business and consumer applications. Businesses or individuals can start immediately with the SoftBook System and be assured that they are using a system that is fully Open eBook-compliant.

The Open eBook specification is based on extensions to HTML 4.0, the industry standard for formatting information on the Internet. It enables the rendering of visually rich, page-oriented material that includes text, tables, graphics and images. This specification creates a universal format for electronic reading material that allows anyone to create content that will work on all compliant reading systems. As a result of this open format, content can be leveraged across a wide audience.

"The Open eBook specification will help expedite the growth of the nascent eBook market," said Dick Brass, Microsoft's vice president for Technology Development, who heads the company's eBook efforts. "SoftBook Press was a key player in this process and provided several of the core elements necessary for providing the foundation of a universal eBook standard."

"SoftBook Press has been involved in the Open eBook Group since the beginning and we've been pleased with the industry support and cooperation to develop a content specification with such broad acceptance," said James Sachs, chairman and CEO of SoftBook Press. "Our whole product line is Open eBook-compliant as evidence of our commitment to embrace this emerging standard and we will adhere to the specifications' guidelines in the development of all our products."

Availability
The Open eBook specification is available free of charge and will ensure that eBook content is universally delivered and read on all devices that adhere to the specification. It is available at http://www.openebook.org.

All SoftBook Press products are compliant with the Open eBook specification and are available directly from SoftBook Press at http://www.softbook.com. SoftBook Personal Publisher will be distributed in the fourth quarter of 1999 free of charge from the SoftBook Press web site.

The SoftBook Advantage
The SoftBook Reader provides unparalleled flexibility and readability for magazine content. The SoftBook Reader is the only ebook reader that loads documents directly via a phone line or network connection without requiring the use of a PC. The SoftBook Reader offers the convenience of being able to download magazines from anywhere there is a standard phone jack or Ethernet connection Ð users don't have to wait for mail delivery or sit uncomfortably at the computer scrolling through content online. Its full-page, brightly backlit screen which displays text, charts and graphics, combined with its ability to "turn" pages, closely emulates the experience readers enjoy with paper.

Once documents or books have been downloaded, users can then take advantage of the SoftBook Reader's numerous features to quickly and more efficiently find the exact news or other information they want to read. For example, they can search for key words or phrases, highlight, underline or write and save handwritten notes.

About SoftBook Press, Inc.
SoftBook Press is creating the future of reading for both individuals and corporations through its system for secure, Internet-enabled distribution of ebooks and corporate documents. The company’s products include the award-winning SoftBook® Reader, the only ebook reader that can access content without going through a PC; and a patent-protected, Internet-based document distribution system that includes content preparation tools, Web site software modules, and document encryption and security services. The company’s SoftBookstore distributes electronic versions of books and periodicals from leading publishers. SoftBook Press is a co-creator and strong supporter of the Open eBook specification. Based in Menlo Park, California, SoftBook Press is a privately held company.

For more information visit www.softbook.com
or contact Eastwick Communications:
Deniz Bolbol 650-480-4028 deniz@eastwick.com