NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FREEHAND SYSTEMS CLOSES ACQUISITION OF ELECTRONIC COURSEWARE SYSTEMS, INC.

Acquisition continues to position FreeHand Systems as world leader in digital music technology and distribution of digital content.

LOS ALTOS, Calif. – October 16, 2006 – Freehand Systems, Inc., subsidiary of FreeHand Systems International, Inc. (OTCO: FSYI) announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Illinois-based Electronic Courseware Systems, Inc. (ECS), a privately held computer software developer and publisher of music and music education products. The acquisition continues to expand FreeHand’s mission of reinventing how musicians read and perform music.

“With the acquisition of Electronic Courseware Systems, we now have additional software and product knowledge to assist in furthering the MusicPad Pro® as a music education tool. We look forward to working with David Peters’ and his team to more aggressively market their products and to incorporate them in the MusicPad,” says Kim Lorz, CEO of Freehand Systems.

ECS was co-founded by Dr. G. David Peters in 1981 to make music software available to teachers and students on low-cost home computers and brings with it over 40,000 customers including schools, universities, private teachers, students and home users. The company has previously developed software for companies such as Roland, Yamaha, IBM, Baldwin Piano and Organ and many major textbook and music publishers. Its valuable assets include a library of computer algorithms and computer software modules used to speed the development of software and media products. The assets of ECS also include a library of 75 instructional and training products in music and other disciplines.

Dr. Peters stated, “We look forward to adding the interactive features of ECS software to FreeHand’s MusicPad Pro and believe it will offer a powerful new technology to both professional and student musicians.”

FreeHand Systems, Inc. (www.freehandsystems.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of FreeHand Systems International, Inc. (FSYI), is the global leader in digital sheet music publishing and is the manufacturer of the first digital music performance and education tablet, the MusicPad Pro® Plus, which has an MSRP of $1199. The pad provides innovative technology to the music industry for displaying and publishing digitally delivered sheet music. The company’s digital sheet music website (www.freehandmusic.com) offers over 85,000 titles for digital download to print or transfer to the MusicPad Pro, which can range from $1.95 for a simple one-page lead sheet to over $50 for a full performing score and parts.

Investor Relations Contact:
investorrelations@freehandsystems.com
Brian Newman, 310-698-2027

Media Contact: Clyde Beswick, VP Marketing
FreeHand Systems, Inc.
95 First Street, Suite 200
Los Altos, CA 94022
310.275.9269
cbeswick@freehandsystems.com

Note to editors: For additional information visit FreeHand System’s website, www.freehandsystems.com. FreeHand Systems, Inc., MusicPad Pro®, MusicPad Pro® Plus, MusicPad Maestro™ are trademarks of FreeHand Systems, Inc.

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This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements regarding potential sales, the success of the company's business, as well as statements that include the word "believe" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of FreeHand Systems International, Inc. to differ materially from those implied or expressed by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risk factors included in FreeHand Systems International, Inc.'s Annual Report and any subsequent reports filed with the SEC under the Exchange Act. This press release speaks as of the date first set forth above and FreeHand Systems International, Inc. assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to factors such as the lack of capital, timely development of products, inability to deliver products when ordered, inability of potential customers to pay for ordered products, and political and economic risks inherent in international trade.