PUBLISHERS SETTLE UNAUTHORIZED COPYING
AND SELLING LAWSUITS AGAINST TWO INDIVIDUALS

Two Separate Defendants Sold Unauthorized Copies
of Solutions Manuals on Internet Auction Sites

NEW YORK, Sept., 29, 2005 - Three leading college textbook publishers, John Wiley & Sons, Thomson Learning and Pearson Education, today announced they have settled pending litigation against two separate defendants engaged in the unauthorized copying, distributing and Internet sale of counterfeit copies of their textbook solutions manuals.

The publishers' complaints, filed in U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, alleged that individuals using the names "beyondboundaries00" and "sidestroke7"were responsible for the unauthorized reproduction, publication and dissemination of solutions manuals corresponding to textbooks published by the three publishers as well as those of other publishers. The materials being sold were intended to be provided only to instructors as pedagogical aids to teaching their courses and assessing student learning. The defendants' attempted widespread distribution of these materials threatened to impair the integrity of the works.

In the first complaint, publishers Wiley and Pearson Education allege that beginning in March 2004, an individual or entity using the names "beyond boundaries00" and "bizrisks," posted counterfeit solutions manuals purported to be products authorized by the publishers on the online auction site eBay.com and half.com.

In the second complaint, publishers Wiley, Thomson Learning and Pearson allege that beginning in January 2004, an individual or entity using the name "sidestroke7" posted counterfeit solutions manuals purported to be products authorized by the publishers on the online auction site eBay.com and half.com.

In settlement of both cases, which were initiated only after the defendants ignored several cease and desist notices by the publishers, the defendants agreed to each pay an undisclosed settlement amount to the publishers, and further agreed to permanently cease and desist from advertising, purchasing, selling or offering to sell plaintiffs' solution manuals, whether online or otherwise.

"This is an important victory for publishers on several levels. Aside from the blatant copyright infringement and counterfeiting of the publishers' trademarks, the defendants behavior encouraged fraud and promoted academic dishonesty. We hope that these lawsuits and settlement send a strong message that publishers will tolerate neither the theft of their intellectual property, nor the distribution of materials that may impair the pedagogical efficacy of their textbooks," said Nancy Wolff, Wolff & Godin, which represented the publishers.

About John Wiley & Sons

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., provides must-have content and services to customers worldwide. Its core businesses include scientific, technical, and medical journals; encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional and consumer books and subscription services; and educational materials for undergraduate, graduate and lifelong learners. Wiley has publishing, marketing, and distribution centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb. Wiley's internet site can be accessed at www.wiley.com

About Thomson Learning

Thomson Learning is a part of The Thomson Corporation, (www.thomson.com), a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson Learning's businesses and brands serve the needs of individuals, learning institutions, corporations and government agencies with products and services for both traditional and distributed learning.

About Pearson Education

Educating 100 million people worldwide, Pearson Education (www.pearsoned.com) is the global leader in educational publishing, providing scientifically research-based print and digital programs to help students of all ages learn at their own pace, in their own way. The company is home to such renowned publishing brands as Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Addison Wesley, Pearson Allyn & Bacon, Pearson Benjamin Cummings and Pearson Longman. Pearson Education is part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO), the international media company. In addition to Pearson Education, Pearson's primary operations include the Financial Times Group and the Penguin Group.

Contacts: Susan Spilka, John Wiley & Sons, (201) 748-6147
Adam Gaber, Thomson Learning, (203) 539-8663
David Hakensen, Pearson Education, (952) 681-3040