iUniverse.com and Publishers Group West Sign Agreement

Posted on November 2, 2000

Publishers Group West, Inc. (PGW), a marketing and distribution company for independent publishers, has announced that it has chosen iUniverse.com's technology platform to provide digital services for its client publishers. Under the agreement, PGW will use iUniverse.com's infrastructure to provide publishers with e-delivery in a variety of formats including Adobe PDF, Microsoft Reader, and Gemstar's Rocket eBook. iUniverse.com recently switched its main focus from publishing print-on-demand books for authors to business-to-business publishing services including content customization, distribution and management. There are also rumors that iUniverse may sell or merge its author services with Xlibris, a rival epublisher, but this has not been confirmed by either company.

``The addition of PGW to our growing list of partners further demonstrates the scalability and capability of iUniverse.com's digital technology platform,'' said Richard Tam, the company's founder and chief executive officer. ``PGW is known for innovation and service, and having such a highly respected partner demonstrates the value of our technology to both large and small publishers.''

``Our distribution clients publish some of the most interesting, innovative and best-selling books being published today, and we know that these books will be in great demand in electronic formats,'' said Charlie Winton, Chief Executive Officer of PGW. ``iUniverse.com provides us with the ability to convert books one time, manage the content, and dynamically generate output into any commercially viable electronic format that consumers want. This gives our publishers the ultimate in flexibility and sets them up for the new markets that are now expanding and growing.''

In addition to multi-format delivery, the agreement also calls for PGW to use the iUniverse.com print-on-demand network to increase printing efficiencies and reduce costs. PGW provides distribution services for more than 100 independent publishers. Under the agreement, iUniverse.com will ultimately digitize thousands of titles and provide PGW and its client publishers with media asset management, content storage and hosting, and multi-format delivery through both electronic distribution and print distribution channels.