Continental AG Protects its Brands Online with Register.com

LONDON & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 19, 2004--

“One of the key issues brand owners must address is the decentralised way in which domain names are often handled internally. Historically, different departments may have been involved in registering and managing domains with different providers, resulting in a fragmented portfolio.”

Continental AG (XETRA: CONG.DE), the international automotive supplier, has selected Register.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCOM), a leading provider of global domain name registration and Internet services, to manage its entire domain name portfolio. Through its Corporate Services Division, Register.com will help Continental manage and secure its Web presence and protect its brands from infringement on the Internet.

The number of domain names - or Web site addresses - in a large company's portfolio can often reach the thousands. Considerations when managing these can include contact detail requirements, billing structures and brand or business unit categorisation. In addition, the diversity of rules for registering in different territories and the complexity of renewal calendars must be tackled with accuracy and speed.

"The first step in working with Continental is to consolidate its portfolio," commented Peter A. Forman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Register.com. "One of the key issues brand owners must address is the decentralised way in which domain names are often handled internally. Historically, different departments may have been involved in registering and managing domains with different providers, resulting in a fragmented portfolio."

Ingo Diederichs, Head of Communication Services at Continental AG commented, "As a global company, it is vital that we have complete control of our domain name portfolio and that our regional offices can manage domain name issues locally. By consolidating the portfolio with one provider, we can ensure that the registration contact details are standardised, making the management of the domains easier."

After identifying and consolidating the existing domain name registrations, Continental can manage its portfolio through Name Console(TM), Register.com's web-based domain name management solution. Name Console(TM) allows Continental to centralise the process of registering, renewing and modifying the company's domain names, and allows decentralized access to the system across its regional offices.

Once the foundations of a domain name strategy are secured, companies are in a better position to ensure their brands are registered in the appropriate territories. Registrations across the country code top-level domains, such as .uk in the United Kingdom and .de in Germany, are a valuable method of reaching important local markets. Similarly, defensive registrations remain one of the most effective methods of protecting against domain name infringements - particularly in high-risk territories where there are no dispute resolution policies. By registering their brands, companies help prevent others from abusing them and potentially avoid legal proceedings to try and reclaim them.

Register.com's Corporate Services Division will service the Germany-based company's requirements through its main European office in London and its local office in Germany.

About Register.com's Corporate Services Division

Register.com's Corporate Services Division (http://corporate.register.com) is committed to providing large multinational corporations with innovative solutions that enhance the management of their brands online. The division partners with leading brand owners to develop their domain name strategy, and register, manage and renew their domain names worldwide. In addition, Register.com provide auditing, monitoring and IT services to help companies create, maintain and protect their online presence. The Corporate Services Division delivers solutions to IP lawyers, brand managers, e-commerce professionals and IT managers. Clients include over 50% of the world's 100 best global brands, as ranked by Interbrand in 2004.

About Register.com

Register.com, Inc. (www.register.com) is a leading provider of global domain name registration and Internet services for businesses and consumers that wish to have a unique address and branded identity on the Internet. With over three million domain names under management, Register.com has built a brand based on quality domain name management services for small and medium sized businesses, large corporations, as well as ISPs, telcos and other online businesses. The company was founded in 1994 and is based in New York.

About Continental

The Continental Corporation is a leading supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers. In 2003 the corporation realized sales of EUR11.5bn. At present it has a worldwide workforce of nearly 73,000.

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Statements in this announcement other than historical data and information constitute forward-looking statements, and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements. These potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, risks associated with Register.com's restructuring process and future business plan, including the risk that expected cost reductions and increased revenues may not be realized at all or in the intended time frame, uncertainty of future revenue and profitability from existing and acquired businesses, increasing competition across all segments of the domain name registration business, risks associated with high levels of credit card chargebacks and refunds, customer acceptance of new products and services offered in addition to, or as enhancements of, the Company's registration services, uncertainty of regulations related to the domain registration business and the Internet generally, the rate of our growth and of the Internet and domain name industry, risks associated with any extraordinary transactions the Company may pursue and other factors detailed in Register.com's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2004 currently on file.