Goodyear Licenses Theme Manager from Stardock for New Website Launch; Tire Manufacturer Uses Desktop Themes to Promote New Products

Business Wire, April 13, 2004

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

CANTON, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 13, 2004

Goodyear, the world's largest tire company, has licensed Stardock's Theme Manager software as an integral part of its marketing efforts for the launch of Goodyear's new line of Assurance(TM) brand tires. Through the use of Stardock's Theme Manager technology, Goodyear is able to offer visitors to its website a single file for download that includes all the software and themes needed to transform the PC desktop. A version of the theme will also be used internally at Goodyear to create a branded desktop.

The Goodyear Theme Manager includes themes for Goodyear's new Assurance featuring TripleTred Technology(TM) and Assurance featuring ComforTred Technology(TM) tires. Each theme has a WindowBlinds visual style, one or more wallpapers, desktop Icon Packager set and the distinctive Goodyear branded Wingfoot mouse cursor powered by CursorXP technology. The themes were designed by the artists at the Buzzwerks Interactive Marketing, a division of Hitchcock, Fleming and Associates (HFA) Interactive Marketing located in Akron, Ohio.

The Goodyear Theme also includes a DesktopX powered object, designed by Martin Conroy of Stardock. Consumers will be able to locate the Goodyear tire retailers closest to their homes and businesses by entering their zip code. This will bring up a list of all retailers within a ten-mile radius.

Larry Kuperman, Sales Manager of Stardock, said "More and more companies are licensing Stardock technologies to put their message on consumers' desktops. One of the reasons for this is that companies can achieve direct benefits from the interactive nature of these desktops. The Dealer Locator, for example, makes it much easier for customers to purchase the products. Consumers can find the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the Goodyear retailers nearest them right from their PC desktops. No other form of advertising can match this."

Jeanne Sherman, Director New Products, Goodyear North American Tire, added, "We see desktop themes as a new tool for conveying our brand message to consumers. Through our work with Stardock, we have not only created a completely brand integrated desktop environment to let people know about these exciting new products, but we reward consumers for visiting the Goodyear website, and the DesktopX technology helps to facilitate the actual purchase. Right now, we are working with Stardock to provide additional desktop technologies that can drive sales even more."

About Stardock:

Stardock Corporation is the leader in the development and sales of award-winning Windows desktop customization solutions such the Object Desktop software suite, including components such as WindowBlinds, DesktopX, IconPackager, and more. Stardock also develops best-selling computer games, including Galactic Civilizations. For more information, please visit the Stardock home page at http://www.stardock.com or contact lkuperman@stardock.com.

About Goodyear:

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is the world's largest tire company. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manufactures tires, engineered rubber products and chemicals in more than 85 facilities in 28 countries. It has marketing operations in almost every country around the world. Goodyear employs about 88,000 people worldwide. For more information about the company, visit www.goodyear.com.

About HF&A:

Established in 1940, Hitchcock Fleming & Associates Inc. has served a broad range of retail, consumer, industrial and business-to-business clients on a local, regional, national and international basis. A few of its clients are The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, the world's largest tire company; Rent-Way Inc., the nation's second-largest operator of rental-purchase stores; Carter Lumber and its more than 200 stores; and Nexa Autocolor (of North America), a world-leading automotive refinishes company serving more than 150 countries.

HF&A's capabilities include marketing; research; strategic planning; print, broadcast, outdoor and specialty advertising; media planning/buying; public relations; interactive strategy development; Internet design and implementation through its Buzzwerks division; sales promotion; direct response; broadcast and video production; and point-of-sale and collateral materials, such as brochures and catalogs. Web sites for HF&A and its interactive division, Buzzwerks, are www.hitchcockfleming.com and www.thebuzzwerks.com.