NEW YORK, Oct. 18, 2007 – In a significant legal settlement, three leading college textbook publishers, Pearson Education, John Wiley & Sons, and Cengage Learning, today announced they have reached a final judgment in a settlement of pending litigation against several defendants engaged in the unauthorized importation, promotion and sale of non-U.S. versions of educational textbooks.

The publishers’ complaints, filed in U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York, alleged that Walbooks, Inc., 123textbooks.com, Low Price, Inc., Reliable Book Service and Ram Kishore, were responsible for the unauthorized importation, promotion and sale of non-U.S. versions of educational textbooks not authorized by the publishers for sale and/or distribution within the United States, through national websites such as ebay.com, amazon.com, abebooks.com and half.com.

Along with the wrongful importation, defendants misled U.S. student buyers by obscuring the text, title and copyright information indicating titles were not authorized for sale in the U.S. and then falsely advertised the infringing works using graphics, photographs and ISBN numbers associated with the U.S. version of the works.

The defendants agreed to pay the publishers an undisclosed sum and cease all importation, promotion and sales of the publishers’ works; recall any and all versions of the publishers’ works from retailers and distributors; and turn over any remaining non-U.S. copies of educational material in their control or possession.

“This settlement essentially shuts down a number of organizations involved in the unauthorized importation and sale of textbooks in the United States,” said Georges Nahitchevansky, counsel representing the publishers. “The pursuit of these organizations should serve as fair warning to others that publishers will pursue legal action against those who engage in unlawful reproduction and sale of their intellectual property.”

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.

About Wiley
Founded in 1807, publisher John Wiley & Sons, Inc., has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Our 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 and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley’s global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia, and a Web site at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.

About Cengage Learning
Cengage Learning delivers highly customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, reference centers, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the world. These solutions are delivered through specialized content, applications and services that foster academic excellence, professional development and measurable learning outcomes. Cengage Learning’s mission is to shape the future of global learning by delivering consistently better learning solutions for teachers, learners, and institutions.

Press Contact:
Susan Spilka,
John Wiley & Sons,
(201) 748-6147

Adam Gaber,
Cengage Learning,
(203) 539-8663

David Hakensen,
Pearson Education,
(952) 681-3040