Press Clippings | Square Enix Settlement in Piracy Case

SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT IN MOVIE PIRACY CASE

The Company Restates Its Aggressive Anti-Piracy Policy

Los Angeles (April 20, 2006)
SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD., a Tokyo-based leading digital content company ("Square Enix"), announced today that it has reached a settlement in an infringement case involving its latest full length DVD / UMD movie Final Fantasy® VII: Advent Children and is stepping up its anti-piracy enforcement with aggressive initiatives being taken against individuals and organizations involved in the theft and unauthorized use of the company's intellectual properties.

On April 17, 2006, Square Enix reached a confidential settlement with an infringer who uploaded to the Internet an unauthorized full length copy of the DVD / UMD movie, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. For more information about the movie, check out http://www.square-enix-usa.com/dvd/ff7ac/. Shortly after the culprit uploaded the pirated copy of the movie to the Google Video website, Square Enix discovered the link and demanded that Google take down the copy. Google complied with Square Enix's demand and, in accordance with U.S. copyright law, removed the illegal copy from the Google Video website. Square Enix then investigated, located, and prosecuted the culprit who uploaded the movie. On April 17, 2006, the culprit admitted that he illegally uploaded to the Google Video website a pirated copy of the movie, and he agreed to pay a confidential monetary sum to Square Enix for damages.

"In connection with the release of the movie, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, we are actively pursuing those who commit intellectual property infringement against our company," said Yasuhiko Hasegawa, Square Enix's General Manager of Legal Affairs. "Any illegal activities, including the illegal uploading of Square Enix content to Internet sites and the unauthorized copying of Square Enix games, music, movies, images, and other intellectual property, will be prosecuted. While Square Enix appreciates the enthusiasm of its fans, and values its relationship with them, it is also obligated to protect its intellectual property rights or risk weakening or losing the very rights that enable the company to continue to provide its fans with an exciting entertainment experience."

The much anticipated English language dubbed version of the movie, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children will be released in North America and the U.K. on April 25, 2006 and April 24, 2006, respectively. For more information regarding the upcoming releases, see http://www.square-enix-usa.com/dvd/ff7ac/.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.
With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Japan, North America, Europe and Asia. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises—FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 63 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST™, which has sold over 40 million units worldwide—under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the internet at http://www.square-enix.com/na.

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FINAL FANTASY, DRAGONQUEST, and the SQUARE ENIX logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries.