Leading Technology Book Publisher to Provide Guides to Industry-leading Animation Software

Boston, MA. June 9, 2004 – Thomson Course Technology, the worldwide leader in computer education products and services and part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC), today announced it has been named the official publisher for Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc. and an industry leader in 3-D content creation software. Using the imprint Softimage Press, Thomson Course Technology is licensed to produce, publish, and distribute official book titles related to various Softimage® software products and their major revisions. This alliance ensures accurate and timely delivery of learning resources for Softimage products.

The first publication, Experience XSI 4: The Official SOFTIMAGE | XSI® 4 Guide to Character Creation, is expected to launch on June 18, 2004. SOFTIMAGE|XSI software is the industry’s first truly nonlinear animation (NLA) system that gives animators and digital artists the freedom to make professional animation, visual effects and games—from major motion pictures, to cartoons and commercials, to animated content for video games and Web sites.

“This relationship exemplifies our increased focus on providing learning resources for the animation industry and animation professionals,” said Andy Shafran, Senior Vice President of Thomson Course Technology. “We support Softimage’s strong market position and quality in their animation products and we are proud to begin working with them on our strategic publishing initiatives.”

“Softimage is committed to supporting the next generation of 3-D artists by partnering with the educational community on the creation of the learning tools and materials that will help develop tomorrow's creative professionals," said Chris Albano, Director, Americas Sales Operations for Softimage. "Collaborating with Thomson Course Technology on the publication of the first official book for XSI 4 complements our efforts to make it even easier for students to learn and master SOFTIMAGE|XSI."

Experience XSI 4: The Official SOFTIMAGE | XSI 4 Guide to Character Creation is a full-color guide that explains how to effectively use the XSI system to create compelling, lifelike characters. From designing and modeling to rendering and compositing, readers will learn groundbreaking new approaches to character and creature animation. Both authors, Michael Isner, the Character Animation Lead for Softimage and Aaron Sims, the Art Director of SW Digital, from the design division of Stan Winston Studio, offer expert industry knowledge that readers will find both compelling and original. Experience XSI 4: The Official SOFTIMAGE | XSI 4 Guide to Character Creation is available on www.courseptr.com today for pre-orders and is expected to be available in bookstores throughout the country by early July.

Experience XSI 4: The Official SOFTIMAGE | XSI 4 Guide to Character Creation
ISBN: 1-59200-210-2, 288 pages, US$49.99/CAN$70.95

About The Thomson Corporation and Thomson Course Technology
The Thomson Corporation (www.thomson.com), with 2003 revenues of $7.6 billion, is a global leader in providing integrated information solutions to business and professional customers. Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to more than 20 million users in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, higher education, reference information, corporate training and assessment, scientific research and healthcare. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson has approximately 39,000 employees and provides services in approximately 130 countries. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). Its learning businesses and brands serve the needs of individuals, learning institutions, corporations and government agencies with products and services for both traditional and distributed learning.

As part of the Thomson Corporation, Thomson Course Technology (www.course.com) is the worldwide leader in computing education, offering more than 1,600 print and innovative technology-based products for business and technology training.

About Softimage Co.

Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry leader in 3D animation, 2D cel animation, compositing, and special effects software, designed to address the demands of the film and commercial/broadcast and games/interactive industries. SOFTIMAGE|XSI software, an integral player in Avid’s Make, Manage and Move Media™ strategy, is the flagship product offering from Softimage. It is the industry's first 3D nonlinear production environment providing animators and digital artists the freedom to make professional animation, visual effects, and games – from major motion pictures, to cartoons and commercials, to animated content for video games and Web sites. Softimage is proud to count amongst its customers: R!OT, The Mill, Pixel Liberation Front, Blue Sky Studios, Hybride, Janimation, Quiet Man, PSYOP, Cinepix, and Framestore CFC. The Softimage product family is designed to help users innovate, create, and collaborate throughout the production process. For more information about Softimage, visit www.softimage.com. For more information about Avid, visit www.avid.com.

Avid, SOFTIMAGE, XSI and Make, Manage and Move Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

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Press Contacts

Kristin Eisenzopf
Associate Marketing Manager
Thomson Course Technology PTR
617-757-8196
Kristin.eisenzopf@thomson.com

Adam Gaber
Sr. Director, Public Relations
Thomson Learning
203.539.8663
adam.gaber@thomson.com