IDGB and iUniverse.com Sign Agreement To Digitize andManage Text of 100 Top-Selling For Dummies...

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 22, 2000

Agreement Gives IDGB Strategic Edge in Anytime-Anywhere

Content Delivery; 125 Frommer's(R) Travel Guides Also Part

of Conversion Plan

IDG Books Worldwide, Inc.

(Nasdaq:IDGB), the popular "how-to" knowledge company, and iUniverse.com, the leading Web-based content service provider, today signed an agreement designed to make the popular For Dummies(R), Frommer's(R) and CliffsNotes(TM) series even more ubiquitous -- and accessible to consumers anytime, anywhere and in a wide range of formats.

The agreement calls for iUniverse.com to digitally convert IDGB's top-selling titles in their 4000+ title base, assuring their wide availability for multi-format distribution in many channels, including for purchase via the iUniverse.com global Website. Once digitally stored in a neutral format, IDGB will have the ability to distribute content to consumers in hard-copy format, using print-on-demand technology, or electronically as OEB (Open Electronic Book), PDF (Portable Document File), HTML (HyperText Mark-up Language), Microsoft(R) Reader or XML (Xtensible Mark-up Language) files.

The agreement also allows e-customers to selectively scan IDGB's content database and create their own custom books, selecting chapters from any title across brand lines. The result will enable more customers around the world to access IDGB titles around the clock. Additionally, iUniverse.com has unique capabilities to support e-commerce back-end functions, such as the management of rights and royalties, transaction processing, and various reporting functions.

"Today's agreement between IDGB and iUniverse.com brings us closer to realizing our vision of tomorrow, where our best-selling "how-to" brands, rich vault of content and timely learning tools are accessible beyond the limitations of bound books," said IDGB chairman and CEO John Kilcullen. "This is only the first step in IDGB's plans to digitize its entire library for electronic distribution, a step which offers new revenue streams and solution sets for our customers, authors and strategic partners."

"We're extremely pleased to have IDGB as an anchor of our growing list of content providers," Said Richard Tam, founder and chief executive officer of iUniverse.com. "IDGB is a marquee publisher and the star power of its brands substantially strengthens our position as the leader in providing the technology platform businesses require for digitizing, customizing and distributing their content. Today's announcement demonstrates the mutual vision of our two organizations."

About iUniverse.com

iUniverse.com is the leading digital content service provider for authors, publishers, businesses and anyone else who wants to get the most out from their content. The company's vision is to be the champion for content unbound and the architect for creating new value out of the content universe -- whatever and wherever that content universe is.

For consumers, iUniverse.com helps writers get published quickly and inexpensively. Company partnerships include premier organizations such as Authors Guild, Ingram Book Group, Writer's Digest, Barnes and Noble and the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

For businesses, iUniverse.com provides the technology infrastructure to help companies extract new value from their existing content. The company has a wide range of partnerships including IDG Books Worldwide and PricewaterhouseCoopers. iUniverse.com has operations in Silicon Valley, California; Lincoln, Nebraska; New York, New York; Rochester, New York; and Shanghai, China. The company employs over 300 people worldwide.

About IDG Books Worldwide

IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., (Nasdaq:IDGB), headquartered in Foster City, California, is a leading global knowledge company with a diverse portfolio of technology, consumer and general how-to brands, computer-based learning tools, Web sites and Internet e-services. IDGB's best-selling brands include For Dummies(R), 3-D Visual(R), Bible(R), CliffsNotes(TM), Frommer's(R) Travel Guides, The Unofficial Guides(R), Betty Crocker's(R), Weight Watchers(R) and Webster's New World(TM). IDGB is also the publisher of AOL Press(TM), Hewlett-Packard Press(TM), Netscape Press(TM) and Novell Press(TM).

The company has more than 4000 active titles, has publishing partnership agreements in more than 90 countries along with translations in 39 languages around the world. IDGB owns the Web sites www.dummies.com, www.dummiesdaily.com, www.cliffsnotes.com, and www.frommers.com. More information about IDGB is available from the company's SEC filing or by visiting the company Web site at www.idgbooks.com. IDGB is a subsidiary of International Data Group, Inc., a leading global provider of information technology media, research, conferences and expositions.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are risks associated with the timing of the new product releases and risks that the new products will not be successful in the market as well as risk factors detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports and registration statements which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.