RealNetworks Granted Fundamental Streaming Media Patent, Enhancing Helix Licensing Program

RealNetworks Granted Fundamental Streaming Media Patent, Enhancing Helix Licensing Program

April 25, 2006

Over 60 Million Helix-Enabled Devices Already Licensed

    SEATTLE, April 25 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
RealNetworks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the leading creator
of digital media services and software, today announced it
has received a fundamental patent for streaming media
technology and applications. The recently-issued patent
(U.S. Patent No. 6,985,932, "Click-to-Stream")
covers the core methods used when consumers select links to
stream audio-visual media via web browsers and other media
players. Reflecting Real's role as the pioneer of streaming
media, the patent covers innovations going back to November
30, 1994, more than four months before Real introduced the
groundbreaking RealAudio(R), which transformed the Web by
bringing streaming audio to the Internet for the first
time.  

    (Photo: 
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060424/SFM089-a
            
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060424/SFM089-b )

    The Click-to-Stream patent and technology will be a
cornerstone of Real's comprehensive technology licensing
program, the Helix(TM) Community (
http://www.helixcommunity.org ), where RealNetworks' core
streaming media encoding, delivery and playback technology
is developed, managed and licensed. Click-to-Stream joins a
portfolio of over 35 patents related to the world of
Internet media delivery.  Real has more than 100 additional
patent applications pending relating to digital media
technology and services. Since its establishment in 2002,
over 50 companies, including Nokia, Motorola, Novell, Red
Hat, Samsung, Sony Ericsson and Sun Microsystems, have
joined the Helix Community and licensed Real's Helix DNA
software and patented technology to build media-enabled
products. Through 2005, Helix licensees shipped over 60
million handsets and consumer devices, up from 25 million
the previous year.

    "In 1994, the World Wide Web was a mute collection
of words and pictures," said Rob Glaser, chairman and
CEO of RealNetworks. "In 1995, Real gave it a voice.
That innovation was a shot heard 'round the Web,
influencing the evolution of whole industries aimed at
delivering voice, music and video to consumers. This
fundamental new patent recognizes our breakthrough
innovation, and provides Real with an exciting opportunity
to expand the Helix Community's role as the centerpiece of
the digital media marketplace."

    Real licenses the Helix DNA Client software, including
Real's related essential patents, under both commercial and
open source licenses. Companies that want a standard
commercial license can use RealNetworks Community Source
Licensing (RCSL).  Open source developers can opt for the
OSI-certified open source RealNetworks Public Source
License (RPSL). These programs span the different needs and
strategies of development and product organizations
worldwide. 

    In addition, RealPlayer(R), Rhapsody(R), SuperPass(TM)
and Real's Helix system software all contain Real's
patented technology. Consumers, Internet portals,
broadband, mobile service providers, and corporate
enterprises using and promoting these or other Real
products, and services are automatically licensed to use
the RealNetworks patents embodied within these product and
services. 

    About the "Click-to-Stream" patent

    The "Click-to-Stream" patent covers the core
methods used when an end user selects a digital media asset
(audio and accompanying video or other metadata) to be
played, causing digital packets of the selected digital
media to be transmitted over an Internet Protocol network
and received by the end user's playback device when
playback begins prior to delivery of the entire digital
media asset to the consumer's device. The patent applies
whether the digital media is played back on a personal
computer, mobile phone, or other hardware device. The
patented "Click-to-Stream" method is most
commonly initiated when an end user accesses media links
from web browser pages, embedded multimedia advertising,
and links managed by network-enabled software media
players.

    Real's history of innovation

    For nearly 12 years, Real has been driving innovation
in the streaming media market by introducing market-leading
technologies, products and services. Real was the first to
bring real-time sound to the Internet with the
groundbreaking introduction of RealAudio and RealAudio
Player in April 1995. Real extended this innovation into
online video with the introduction of RealVideo(R) in 1997.
Real was also the first company to offer an integrated music
jukebox with the launch of RealJukebox(R) in 1999, the first
to offer an Internet-based multimedia subscription service
with the introduction of RealPlayer GoldPass(TM) in 2000,
and pioneered the digital casual games market with the
launch of the RealArcade(R) product in 2001. In addition,
Real was the first company to reach 1 million paying
subscribers for its premium audio and video services,
including Rhapsody, RealArcade and SuperPass. Real
continues to lead the paid content market, with more than
2.25 million paying subscribers for those premium services
as of the end of 2005.

    ABOUT HELIX

    Helix is a digital media technology platform and a
community for the standardization and expansion of digital
media technology. The Helix platform consists of source
code for the creation, delivery and playback of digital
media, as well as a set of interfaces for building
media-enabled applications.  Helix Community members are
able to use this source code to build media-capable
products with industry-leading technology and commonly used
interfaces. The Helix Community offers source code and
related patents rights for Helix DNA Client, Helix DNA
Server and Helix DNA Producer under commercial community
and open source licenses.

    ABOUT REALNETWORKS, INC.

    RealNetworks, Inc. is the leading creator of digital
media services and software including Rhapsody(R),
RealPlayer(R) 10 and casual PC and mobile games. 
Broadcasters, network operators, media companies and
enterprises use RealNetworks' products and services to
create and deliver digital media to PCs, mobile phones and
consumer electronics devices. RealNetworks' corporate
information is located at
http://www.realnetworks.com/company .

    Forward Looking Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements
that involve risks and uncertainties, including those
relating to RealNetworks' ability to expand and grow the
Helix Community through the addition of the Click-to-Stream
patent and other patents. Actual results may differ
materially from the results predicted. Factors that could
cause actual results to differ from the results predicted
include the risks associated with the development of new
digital media delivery technologies, the sustained adoption
and use of RealNetworks technology by customers, the
strength and value of Real's patent portfolio, and
customers' willingness to license and use Real's
technology. More information about potential risk factors
that could affect RealNetworks' business and financial
results is included in RealNetworks' annual report on Form
10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and from time
to time in other reports filed by RealNetworks with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.

    For more information, please contact:

     Maureen (Mo) Farley
     RealNetworks
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Ronda Scott
     RealNetworks
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

SOURCE  RealNetworks, Inc.