Starwave Mobile Licenses Rubik's Cube and Rubik's Brand; World's Be

    Business Editors/Entertainment Editors/Telecommunications Writers

    NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. & NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 14, 2005--Starwave Mobile, a mobile publishing and licensing label from the Walt Disney Internet Group, today announced it has obtained exclusive worldwide mobile rights for the classic Rubik's(R) brand of puzzle games including the world-famous Rubik's(R) Cube.
    Under the terms of the deal with Seven Towns Ltd., license holder of the 25-year-old Rubik's franchise, Starwave plans to launch a line of mobile games based on the popular Rubik's brand of casual and puzzle games later this year.
    "Puzzle games are very big in the mobile arena, and Rubik's is the preeminent puzzle brand. It resonates with consumers of generations past and present. We look forward to putting a new twist on Rubik's innovative games and puzzles and getting it in the hands of today's mobile enthusiasts," said Larry Shapiro, executive vice president and general manager, Starwave Mobile.
    "Starwave Mobile is a premier mobile content developer with a broad distribution network and we are excited to work with them. We believe that the celebrated Rubik's gaming franchise will translate exceptionally well to mobile," said David Hedley Jones, business development director, Seven Towns, Ltd.
    The Cube made its international debut in 1980 and almost immediately demand outstripped supply. The challenge of trying to master the Cube, to be able to restore all of its six sides to the original colors seemed to have a mesmeric effect on an amazing variety of people. The Cube was TV advertised in the USA (the first puzzle to be marketed this way) and then in over 10 other major markets. It was sold in over 150 countries worldwide. Over 300 million Rubik's Cubes have been sold worldwide making it the greatest single item toy craze of all time and is celebrating its 25th birthday this year.
    Starwave Mobile maintains key relationships with all of the major U.S. carriers.

    About Starwave Mobile

    Starwave Mobile is the unit of the Walt Disney Internet Group that licenses and publishes content from third-party companies and non-Disney brands from within The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS). It also develops original, non-Disney branded properties. The Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) provides strategic leadership and operational management for The Walt Disney Company's Internet properties including category leaders Disney.com, ESPN.com and ABCNEWS.com. Through relationships with some of the world's largest wireless carriers, WDIG also distributes content and services to wireless users under the Disney brand.

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CONTACT: Walt Disney Internet Group Kim Kerscher, 818-623-3266 Kim.Kerscher@dig.com or mPRm Public Relations Yasmeen Coning, 323-933-3399 yconing@mprm.com

KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA LOUISIANA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS ENTERTAINMENT ELECTRONIC GAMES/MULTIMEDIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT MARKETING AGREEMENTS SOURCE: Walt Disney Internet Group

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