Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Berkeley Systems to bring Looney Tunes to computer screens; agreement to span Berkeley's three divisions of software development

Business Wire, Jan 12, 1995

BERKELEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 12, 1995--Berkeley Systems Inc., a leader in the consumer software market, and Warner Bros. Consumer Products have signed an agreement giving Berkeley exclusive rights to the beloved Looney Tunes(TM) characters for use in a broad range of software.

Berkeley will develop software titles with Warner Bros. in each of Berkeley's three divisions: screen savers, personal productivity, and children's utility products.

Working with the vast array of characters, sounds, and music from over 50 years of Looney Tunes cartoons, Berkeley brings its trademark high- quality graphics and established experience in software development to one of the most recognizable and popular licenses.

"Warner Bros.' Looney Tunes is the last of the great licenses, as far as screen savers go," stated Berkeley Systems' Senior Producer Maury Zeff. "With Berkeley's expertise in entertainment software and Looney Tunes' stable of rich characters, we have an unbeatable combination."

Warner Bros. set the tone for much of the animation of the last 50 years with the high standards and boundless creativity that went into making their Looney Tunes cartoons, giving rise to such cartoon standards as falling anvils, explosives as a comic device, and wise guy heroes.

Looney Tunes has over 50 years of audience appeal, spanning multiple generations and media. Beginning as cartoon `shorts' on the movie screen and then moving to the television screen, Looney Tunes will now make the leap to the computer screen.

"Warner Bros. is thrilled to be working with Berkeley Systems on this exciting project," stated Holly Stein, Director of Interactive Entertainment at Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "We are certain that Berkeley is the best choice to help our Looney Tunes characters make a successful leap from the silver screen to the computer screen."

The first product to hit store shelves will be The Looney Tunes Screen Saver, featuring 12 fully animated modules complete with musical scores. Shipping this April, it will feature such famous characters as the Tasmanian Devil, Elmer Fudd, Pepe Le Pew, Daffy Duck, Marvin the Martian, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote and, of course, Bugs Bunny. Computer users can now have a Looney Tunes cartoon on their screen anytime they want!

Founded in 1987, Berkeley Systems Inc. is most recognized for its immensely popular, award winning After Dark line of animated screen savers. Recently, the company introduced two new divisions of software development: personal productivity and children's software. In addition, Berkeley Systems also produces software that enables users with visual disabilities to use both Windows and Macintosh computers.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products, which includes Licensing and Studio Stores divisions, is a division of Warner Bros. -0-

Note to Editors: Screen shots of The Looney Tunes Screen Saver are available upon request and review copies will be available after ship date. For more information, contact Monica Granados or Steven Decker at 510/540-5535 or steve@berksys.com.

CONTACT: Berkeley Systems Inc.

Steven Decker, 510/540-5535