PRESS RELEASE

The Expo Group Expands Patent Portfolio, Offers Licensing

Contact Dana Freker Doody
The Expo Group
972-580-900 x1644
ddoody@theexpogroup.com
http://www.theexpogroup.com/

Irving, Texas – April 16, 2004 – The Expo Group announced the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office has completed its review of the company’s application for a continuation patent on the Single Source® business process and software technology. U.S. Patent 6,721,763 B1 was issued April 13, 2004.

The “Automated Convention Processing System and Method Patent” (U.S. Pat 6,557,007 B1) issued in April 2003 protects The Expo Group’s business process that allows companies to interact with a single company to order all services needed for exhibiting. The continuation patent issued this week is comparable to a child of the original, or parent, patent application and covers additional scope of the process.

“This continuation patent further validates and protects our business process and allows The Expo Group to more confidently offer licensing to the industry at large,” says Ray Pekowski, President of The Expo Group. “The Expo Group continues to lead the industry in customer service and technological advancements, but we are eager to license our business process and software technology to better the tradeshow industry. Other suppliers, contractors, associations and management companies can license the Single Source® methods for use on their own tradeshow or at their facility.”

The Expo Group’s patented business process controls supply chain management, vendor fulfillment reporting, financial reporting, data management service, quality control functionality and integrated ecommerce processing engines -- all things that improve efficiencies and help lower the cost of exhibiting. The industry is crying for answers to rising costs and better service, and we have invented an alternative to the traditional method of servicing exhibitors.

“Single Source® provides one contact, one invoice and one deadline date, which streamlines exhibiting,” says Vice President and CIO Randy Pekowski. “This is a revolutionary model in our industry. To date, The Expo Group has licensed its patented process and software to the second-largest show in America, PACK EXPO. With the creation of PACK EXPO Services, the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute is able to control costs and provide superior customer service to their exhibitors. We know other show managers and associations are ready to do the same, and more licensing agreements are pending.”

The Expo Group is the tradeshow industry’s Single Source Solution® for exhibitors’ needs. From its state-of-the-art online ordering system to general design décor for events such as Ace Hardware Semi-annual Convention and Exhibition, the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology annual meetings, METALCON International and many others, The Expo Group is a widely recognized industry leader.

For information on licensing, please contact Randy Pekowski at 972-580-9000 x1109 or randypekowski@theexpogroup.com.

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