The past two years and eight months have been nothing short of remarkable for me. I had the pleasure of helping found and drive a company that would take over the development and publishing of the most remarkable bit of software that has ever touched my life, Poser. With the help of Larry Weinberg and some enthusiastic partners, a dozen jobs that had been lost due to layoffs at MetaCreations were saved. A brand was revitalized. And a new chapter in the history of this product could be started.

The first year anniversary at CL came at a time when the golden days of software publishing were losing their luster. The market was about to change. The economy started to weaken. Corporate valuations were dropping. The industry was slowing down rapidly. Funds from sales and investment were getting scarce. And the impact was being felt by every software publisher.

In that second year the most unexpected event in our lifetimes occurred. The tragic news at the World Trade Center set many things into motion. A weak market was further stressed. Sales were impacted as well. And the natural response that any business has when faced with difficult cash flow events is to adjust costs accordingly, ensuring its survival. By the beginning of 2002, the financial picture hadnt changed substantially, and CL had to trim to the bone.

I never really got over those cuts. They were deep, and hit me hard personally. I had to lay my wife off, alongside some good trusted friends that were critical to the day to day operations at CL and to Poser 5. The development plans were altered by these changes as well. Critical resources were in short supply, and promised funding from investment was too little, too late. In the end, timelines were in-flexible and the plans we made didnt pan out.

Today, Curious Labs needs to be able to operate as economically as possible. There is a small core team that is critical to CL and to Poser. That team is intact. They will continue to offer sales and technical support and keep Curious Labs alive and prosperous. This will allow Poser to continue forward. Plus CL sees the wisdom in building partnerships with experienced former team members that can deliver core components to keep Poser growing. There is focused leadership at Curious Labs, and I believe that will guarantee a long life for Poser in the future. For me, there is a different future. Although I will continue to consult with CL on many matters, I will no longer be an employee or a part of the operations. Even with these changes, I will be maintaining a presence in the community. I enjoy the community and love Poser too much to leave it.

Its been a very interesting journey. Ive been given some opportunities that are rare. But now its time for a change, and for a chance to pursue something new.

Sincerely,

Steve Cooper