November 18, 2008
 
Dear Autodesk/Softimage Customer,
 
Autodesk has completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Avid Technology, Inc.'s Softimage business. With the addition of Softimage, Autodesk will be able to offer you more complete and efficient games, film and television pipelines. We're also working on new, real-time interactive 3D technology for runtime applications.
 
Marc Stevens, former general manager of Softimage, has joined the Autodesk Media & Entertainment management team. Much of the Softimage product team has also joined Autodesk, as well as some key people from sales and marketing. Over the coming months, we will be integrating the Softimage business into Autodesk.
 
Product Integration
You will still be able to choose your favorite 3D modeling, animation and rendering solutions - whether it is SOFTIMAGE®|XSI®, Autodesk® 3ds Max® or Autodesk Maya® software. We are going to keep developing all three as standalone products, and are going to improve interoperability through the Autodesk® FBX® 3D data exchange solution. Autodesk will also develop and sell SOFTIMAGE®|Face Robot® software, which enables the creation of life-like human facial animation. The SOFTIMAGE®|Cattm character animation system will be integrated into the 3ds Max product line, while the SOFTIMAGE®|Crosswalk solution will be integrated with Autodesk's own interoperability technology.
 
Branding
The Softimage brand is known and loved in the 3D community. We plan to keep the name in use as part of the Autodesk brand identity. However, there will be some branding modifications as we integrate Softimage products. While there will be no immediate change to the product names, we do intend to make some changes to product branding with the next software releases.
 
Purchasing and Support
Autodesk is committed to supporting all existing Softimage customers through our combined product offerings, channel partners, worldwide support organizations and consulting businesses. If you are a Softimage customer and have a current support contract, it will be transferred from Avid Technology to Autodesk and will be valid until the original date of expiration. Autodesk will continue to provide you with support services until that date, after which you will be able to renew your contract with Autodesk Services and Support.
 
The Softimage online store is temporarily offline, in order for us to integrate it with Autodesk's online store. Within a few weeks, we expect to make Softimage products available online for US-based customers. Over time, we plan to add Softimage products to e-stores for all regions where other Autodesk products are sold online.
 
No changes are currently being made to the sales channels. Autodesk and Softimage channel partners continue to operate under their existing contracts. It is expected that authorizations will be set up no later than February 2009, so that Autodesk channel partners can receive access to Softimage products; and Softimage channel partners interested in becoming Autodesk channel partners can undergo an authorization application process.
 
Further details are available in a Frequently Asked Questions document and other materials posted at
www.autodesk.com/softimage.
 
Thank you for your business.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Marc Petit
Senior Vice President
Autodesk Media & Entertainment