Kluwer launches eBookstore

[Ann Okerson <ann.okerson@yale.edu>]

Of possible interest to readers of this list.
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KLUWER LAUNCHES eBOOKSTORE AT http://ebooks.kluweronline.com
Popular Titles Available for Academic and Research Markets

NEW YORK (4/22/02) - Kluwer announced today the launch of an eBookstore
for academic and research professionals. The site, located at
http://ebooks.kluweronline.com/, features eBook titles in Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF) in numerous subject areas, including biology/medical
science, chemistry, computer science/electrical engineering,
physics/materials science, and social sciences.

Each title has been securely packaged and protected for online
distribution and downloading using digital rights management technology
through Adobe Content Server.  Customers can purchase and download their
titles on PCs, laptops and Macs.  Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader 2.1,
available at no cost from www.adobe.com, is used to view the titles. With
Adobe's technology, each font, layout and illustration contained within
the title is reproduced clearly and accurately in Adobe PDF. A built-in
dictionary, two-page layout feature and the ability to resize fonts enable
a high quality, interactive reading experience.

"We're pleased to offer our world-renowned print publications in e-format
to scientists, researchers, academics and professionals," said Peter
Hendriks, Kluwer's Vice President of Commercial Operations. "It will
provide our customers with multiple options to reach Kluwer's content."

"Adobe PDF-based eBooks give consumers a visually-rich reading platform
that renders complex content clearly and accurately," said James
Alexander, Director of eBooks at Adobe. "Using Adobe Content Server,
Kluwer can confidently distribute rights-protected eBooks to the
scientific and research communities and satisfy their demands for quality
and portability."

The eBookstore launched today allows individuals to purchase books using a
credit card. Over 150 titles are currently available, with dozens being
added each week. Kluwer is also developing an eBookstore offering the same
titles that will allow institutions to purchase site licenses.

OverDrive, Inc., (www.overdrive.com) a leading provider of eBook, DRM and
digital marketplace technology, supplied Kluwer with end-to-end solutions
and services for this online initiative, including the conversion of
hundreds of printed titles into Adobe PDF format, retail storefront and
backend infrastructure, and a global content clearinghouse for uploading
and storage of digital inventory.

About Kluwer

Kluwer, located in the Netherlands, Boston and New York, is one of the
leading scientific publishers and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolters
Kluwer nv.  Kluwer annually publishes more than 1500 book titles by
reputed researchers from all over the world, and leading authors from all
scientific subject areas publish regularly in Kluwer's 750 scientific
journals. The electronic platform, Kluwer Online, reaches millions of
researchers in more than 50 countries.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a multinational information services company with annual
sales of approximately EUR 3.7 billion, employing approximately 19,000 in
Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. The company's core activities are
Legal, Tax & Business, Health & Science and Education information. Wolters
Kluwer shares are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam.

About OverDrive

OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com) is a leading provider of eBook, DRM
and media marketplace technologies enabling the secure management and
distribution of digital media over global networks.  As a strategic
partner with Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Adobe Systems, Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADBE), OverDrive delivers proven technology for trusted
fulfillment and resale of premium content from the world's leading media
companies.  As a Principal Member of the Open eBook Forum (OeBF),
OverDrive is strategically focused on driving specifications and standards
for the emerging and rapidly evolving electronic publishing industry. The
company was founded in 1986, and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio.

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� 2002 OverDrive, Inc.

Contact:
Jennifer A. Jackson, OverDrive, Inc., (216) 573-6886 ext. 207,
jjackson@overdrive.com
Christy Tanner, Kluwer, (212) 620-8025, ctanner@wkap.com