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NetEase.com Announces Receipt of Approval from the General Administration of Press and Publication for Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft-The Burning Crusade as Online Game Published Goods
(Beijing – February 12, 2010) NetEase.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTES), one of China’s leading Internet and online game services providers, today announced that its affiliated company,Shanghai EaseNet Network Technology Limited (“Shanghai EaseNet”), has received approval from the General Administration of Press and Publication (“GAPP”) of the PRC government for World of Warcraft®: The Burning Crusade®, an expansion of World of Warcraft, as online game published goods. Shanghai EaseNet licenses World of Warcraft, a massively multi-player online role-playing game, for operation in China from Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
About NetEase
NetEase.com, Inc. is a leading China-based Internet technology company that pioneered the development of applications, services and other technologies for the Internet in China. NetEase’s online communities and personalized premium services have established a large and stable user base for the NetEase websites which are operated by its affiliates. In particular, NetEase provides online game services to Internet users through the in-house development or licensing of massively multi-player online role-playing games, including Fantasy Westward Journey, Westward Journey Online II, Westward Journey Online III, Tianxia II and Datang, as well as the licensed game, Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft.
NetEase also offers online advertising on its websites which enables advertisers to reach its substantial user base. In addition, NetEase has paid listings on its search engine and web directory and classified advertising services, as well as an online mall, which provides opportunities for e-commerce and traditional businesses to establish their own storefront on the Internet. NetEase also offers wireless value-added services such as news and information content, matchmaking services, music and photos from the Web which are sent over SMS,MMS, WAP, IVR and Color Ring-back Tone technologies.
Other community services which the NetEase websites offer include instant messaging,online personal advertisements, matchmaking, alumni clubs and community forums. NetEase is also the largest provider of free email services in China. Furthermore, the NetEase websites provide various channels of content. NetEase aggregates news content on world events, sports, science and technology, and financial markets, as well as entertainment content such as cartoons, games, astrology and jokes, from over one hundred international and domestic content providers.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.
Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®,StarCraft®, and Diablo® series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes eleven #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®,is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active users.
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This press release contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,”“future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. The accuracy of these statements may be impacted by a number of business risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or anticipated, including risks related to: the risk that Shanghai EaseNet will not be able to continue operating World of Warcraft or other games licensed by it for a period of time or permanently due to actions by governmental authorities in China; the risk that future expansion packs will not receive any requisite governmental approvals in a timely manner or at all; and other risks outlined in NetEase’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NetEase does not undertake any obligation to update this forward-looking information,except as required under applicable law.
Contact for Media and Investors:
Brandi Piacente
Investor Relations
Email: brandi@corp.netease.com
Tel: +1-212-481-2050
Li Jia
NetEase.com, Inc.
Email: liddyli@corp.netease.com
Tel: +86-10-8255-8208