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Wizards Of The Coast Takes Legal Action

JAN. 19, 2006 (RENTON, WASH.) – Wizards of the Coast, Inc., the world leader in hobby gaming and a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), today filed suit in U.S. District Court in Washington against Daron Rutter of Vancouver, British Columbia, an administrator of the website "MTG Salvation." The complaint alleges that Rutter intentionally and repeatedly posted on the site Wizards’ proprietary information he unlawfully obtained. Specifically alleged is the unauthorized display of prototypes from planned releases of Wizards' world-famous Magic: The Gathering® Trading Card Game (TCG). Also named in the lawsuit are individuals whom the company believes provided Rutter with Wizards of the Coast trade secrets. The names of these individuals are not known and they are identified as “JOHN DOES 1-10” in the complaint.

“Wizards of the Coast was dismayed to learn our most confidential property was being displayed on a public message board that is widely read by the Magic community,” said Jared Gustafson, Director of Marketing at Wizards of the Coast. “The unauthorized release of information about prototype cards harms the brand because the cards are seen and judged prematurely out of context of the entire set.”

“Wizards of the Coast greatly appreciates fan sites and the role they play in generating excitement for the world’s first and most popular Trading Card Game,” noted Elaine Chase, Senior Brand Manager for Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast. “While we encourage fan enthusiasm by permitting the use of authorized and other publicly available images and information, we can not tolerate the unauthorized release of confidential company information.”

For more information on Magic: The Gathering, visit magicthegathering.com.

Wizards of the Coast, Inc., is a worldwide leader in the trading card game and tabletop roleplaying game categories, and a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products. The company holds an exclusive patent on Trading Card Games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces the premier trading card game, Magic: The Gathering, among many other Trading Card Games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of roleplaying games, such as Dungeons & Dragons®, and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at www.wizards.com.

Wizards of the Coast, Magic: The Gathering, and Dungeons & Dragons are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All rights reserved. © 2006 Wizards.

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