World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

2001 News Releases

WWE Entertainment Canada, Inc. Slams Pay-Per-View Pirates

July 17, 2001
Toronto, ON - July 17, 2001 - WWE Entertainment Canada, Inc. (NYSE: WWE) today filed a claim for a permanent injunction and damages in the Federal Court of Canada against more than 30 sports bars and commercial establishments across Canada who are infringing upon WWE's intellectual property through their illegal and unauthorized distribution of its monthly live pay-per-view telecasts.

The claim seeks to immediately prohibit the defendants from distributing any further WWE pay-per-view programs and seeks more than $1.7 million (Canadian) in damages. This lawsuit is part of the company's global effort to prevent piracy and bootlegging of its intellectual properties.

WWE Entertainment produces and broadcasts monthly pay-per-view specialty live events throughout the world. WWE makes these specialty events available to sports bars and for private in-home viewing upon payment of a subscription fee.

"Halting this unauthorized and illegal broadcast of our intellectual property and television programming protects our fans and our numerous business partners," said Carl DeMarco, president, WWE Entertainment Canada, Inc. "This initiative, together with our very active effort to seize counterfeit merchandise at retail stores and live WWE events, will ensure than our fans continue to receive quality and authentic products."

"Piracy affects those sports bars and commercial establishments that have purchased the programming legitimately and have invested in the promotion of these events. We are committed to making sure our business partners benefit from their investment in the WWE, so they will continue to offer top quality entertainment for our fans," DeMarco added.

WWE Entertainment, Inc. is an integrated media and entertainment company headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with sales offices in New York City, Chicago and Canadian headquarters in Toronto. Additional information on the company can be found at wwe.com and wweecorpbiz.com.

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Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, food and beverage, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; and other risks and factors identified in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated.

Contacts
Investors:
Tom Gibbons, VP of Investor Relations, WWE, (203) 328-2576

Media:
Carl DeMarco, President, WWE Canada Inc., (416) 497-8338

Patrick Lassaline, Prosecuting Lawyer, Crawford, McKenzie, McLean & Wilford
(705) 325-2753