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                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      REALNETWORKS ACQUIRES AEGISOFT CORP.

        SEATTLE, January 15, 2001 -- RealNetworks(R), Inc. (Nasdaq: RNWK), the
recognized leader in media delivery on the Internet, today announced the
acquisition of Aegisoft Corp. of Rockville, MD. Aegisoft is one of the leading
developers of technologies for secure digital media software. The Aegisoft
management and technical team will join RealNetworks in Seattle.

        "I'm excited the Aegisoft development team is joining RealNetworks.
Together we will accelerate the creation of secure Internet media delivery
systems and enable a new mass medium," said Ji Shen, CEO of Aegisoft Corp.

        "RealNetworks has always worked to help our partners protect their
intellectual property," said Brad Hefta-Gaub, director of development, Media
Systems, RealNetworks, Inc. "Through our work with the team from Aegisoft, we
will continue to innovate in ways that support security throughout RealSystem."

        The acquisition of Aegisoft will be accounted for as a purchase
transaction. The consideration paid to the former equity holders of Aegisoft is
approximately 1,221,305 shares of RealNetworks common stock. In addition, former
equity holders of Aegisoft have the future right to receive up to 300,000
additional shares of RealNetworks common stock. These shares represent less than
1% of shares outstanding.

ABOUT REALNETWORKS

        RealNetworks, Inc., based in Seattle, is the recognized leader in
streaming media delivery on the Internet. It develops and markets software
products and services designed to enable users

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of personal computers and consumer electronic devices to send and receive audio,
video and other multimedia services using the Web. Consumers can access and
experience audio/video programming and download RealNetworks consumer software
on the Internet at http://www.real.com. RealNetworks' systems and corporate
information is located on the Internet at http://www.realnetworks.com.

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For More Information, Press Only:

Erika Shaffer, RealNetworks, (206) 892-6191, eshaffer@real.com

RealNetworks and RealSystem are trademarks or registered trademarks of
RealNetworks, Inc. All other companies or products listed herein are trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties, including those relating to RealNetworks' ability to develop and
market secure media delivery technologies. Actual results may differ materially
from the results predicted. Factors that could cause actual results to differ
from the results predicted include the risks associated with the development of
new security technologies and the sustained adoption and use of RealNetworks
technology by customers. More information about potential risk factors that
could affect RealNetworks' business and financial results is included in
RealNetworks' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999,
and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2000,
and from time to time in other reports filed by RealNetworks with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.