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OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT

Executive Employment Agreement

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REALNETWORKS INC

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Title: OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
Governing Law: Washington     Date: 3/16/2006
Industry: Software and Programming     Sector: Technology

OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT, Parties: realnetworks inc
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                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.20

April 2, 2004

Sid Ferrales
3108 Alexander Circle NE
Atlanta, GA   30326

Dear Sid:

I am extremely pleased to offer you employment at RealNetworks, Inc. as Senior
Vice President, Human Resources. Your start date will be finalized at a later
time but we hope that it will be on or before April 12, 2004.

This offer is for a full-time, exempt, regular position with Real. Your
responsibilities will be as directed by Real. You will be paid a monthly salary,
which is equivalent on an annualized basis to $240,000 (subject to normal
withholdings), payable semi-monthly in accordance with our normal payroll
procedures. You are eligible to earn an annual bonus under the Company's
Executive MBO Incentive Program. We expect that in 2004 executives will be
eligible to earn an annual bonus of up to 30% of their base salary, per the
terms of the Company's Executive MBO Incentive Program. As such, you will be
eligible to earn an MBO bonus of up to $72,000, based on meeting MBO target
goals, for a total target annual cash compensation of $312,000. Performance
targets for the Program will be set in April this year and must be approved by
the Board of Directors

You will also earn equity in Real under the terms of Real's 1996 Stock Option
Plan. Upon the start of your employment, you will be eligible for options on
200,000 shares, which will begin vesting on your hire date according to the
vesting rules, and all other provisions contained in the Plan. Under the Plan,
the first 30% of this grant will vest on the 18-month anniversary of the grant,
and 10% will vest each six months thereafter. Your stock options will be granted
on the date the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors
approves the grant of the option (the "Grant Date"). The exercise price of the
stock options granted to you shall be equal to the fair market value of Real's
Common Stock on the Grant Date. Fair market value shall equal the last sales
price for shares of Real's Common Stock on the Grant Date as reported by the
NASDAQ National Market. Please be aware that unvested stock is forfeited upon
termination of employment.

Real will make the following payments to you in connection with your relocation
from Austin, Texas to Seattle, WA:

1.     A signing bonus of $30,000 will be paid within 30 days of the commencement
      of your employment with Real.

2.     An additional bonus of $60,000 will be paid to you in two separate
      increments to assist with relocation and housing costs. The first $10,000
      will be paid within 30 days of the commencement of your employment. The
      additional $50,000 will be paid on January 15, 2005, provided that you
      have purchased or leaseda permanent residence in the immediate Seattle
      area by that date, or within 15 days of the date you do secure a permanent
      resident, if later than January 15, 2005.

3.     Up to two 4 day house-hunting trips for you and your immediate family,
      including coach airfare, accommodations, and reimbursement for your
      reasonable rental car, food and incidental expenses. Real will arrange for
      a realtor or apartment finder to show you different neighborhoods in and
      around Seattle.

4.     Real will cover the costs of those additional items set forth on the
      attached Compensation Summary attached as Attachment A upon the
      presentation of receipts.
<PAGE>

Some or all of these bonus and relocation payments or costs may be taxable
income. If you voluntarily resign your employment with Real within 12 months of
the date of completion of your relocation, or if Real terminates your
employement for "Cause" (as defined in Real's 1996 Stock Option Plan) during
such period, you agree to reimburse Real for a pro rata amount of all of the
payments described above and you authorize Real to deduct from your final
paycheck any amounts remaining due to Real as of your terminate date.

You will receive paid vacation, paid holidays, paid sick leave, and, upon
satisfaction of any eligibility or waiting requirements, medical/dental
coverage, 401K participation, disability and life insurance coverage, employee
stock purchase plan participation and other benefits ("Benefits") as described
in the Real Employee Handbook, Benefit Plan descriptions, and Real policies, as
they may be amended from time to time. All of these Benefits are subject to
change upon notice from Real.

You will be regarded as a key employee under certain federal regulations
governing family and medical leave. This status will require that you work
closely with us in planning if you develop a need for family or medical leave.

Also, as a corporate executive, you will be subject to the Pre-Clearance
Procedures of the Policy on Avoidance of Insider Trading. A copy of the policy
is attached.

It is our policy that employees may not use or disclose confidential information
or trade secrets obtained from any source or during any prior employment. Real
requires employees to abide by all contractual and legal obligations they may
have to prior employers or others, such as limits on disclosure of information
or competition. Prior to signing this letter, you must inform us if you are
subject to any such obligations that would prevent you from working at Real in
your intended capacity or that would otherwise restrict you in the performance
of your services to Real. Violation of this requirement may result in
termination of your employment with Real. By signing this letter, you further
agree that you will not bring to Real any confidential documents of another, nor
disclose any confidential information of another, and that you will comply fully
with these requirements.

Our employment relationship will be terminable at will, which means that either
you or Real may terminate your employment at any time and for any reason or no
reason, subject only to the provisions below describing your obligation to
provide Real with notice, and Real's obligation to make certain payments if Real
terminates your employment for reasons other than cause. Your right to receive
these payments described below are subject to and conditioned upon your signing
a valid general and complete release of all claims (except those relating to
Real's payment obligations under this letter agreement) against Real (and its
related entities and persons) in a form provided by Real.

You agree that you will provide Real four months notice prior to you terminating
your employment in the first two years of your employment. In the event that
Real terminates your employment without Cause in the first two years of your
employment, we will provide you with four months notice or pay of your
then-current base salary in lieu of notice through any remaining portion of the
notice period.

This offer is contingent on: (i) you providing evidence of employability as
required by federal law (which includes providing Real within 3 days after your
employment commences with acceptable evidence of your identity and US employment
eligibility), (ii) Real receiving acceptable results from any background check
or reference check, and (iii) you signing Real's Development, Confidentiality
and Noncompetition Agreement, attached hereto.

REAL PROVIDES EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EMPLOYMENT AND WILL ADMINISTER ITS POLICIES
WITH REGARD TO RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, PROMOTION,

                                       2
<PAGE>

TRANSFER, DEMOTION, LAYOFF, TERMINATION, COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS WITHOUT
REGARD TO RACE, RELIGION, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, CITIZENSHIP, MARITAL STATUS,
SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, AGE, DISABILITY OR STATUS AS A DISABLED VETERAN OR
VETERAN OF THE VIETNAM ERA OR ANY OTHER CHARACTERISTIC OR STATUS PROTECTED BY
APPLICABLE LAW.

This letter and the Development, Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement,
the 1996 Stock Option Plan, and your Stock Option Agreement, contain the entire
agreement between you and Real, and supersede all prior oral and written
discussion, agreements and understandings. This letter may not be modified
except in writing signed by both you and Real. Any disputes regarding this
letter or your employment with Real shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Washington. If any provision of this
letter is deemed to be invalid or unenforceable, at Real's option, the remaining
terms shall continue in full force and effect.

This offer is valid until April 9, 2004.

Sid, we are excited about the prospect of you joining RealNetworks, Inc. and
know that you will make significant contributions to our continued growth and
success. We look forward to working with you. Please call me or Sandy Gould if
you have questions about this offer letter.

Sincerely,

/s/ Kelly Jo MacArthur

Kelly Jo MacArthur
Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff
RealNetworks, Inc.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have read and agree to the terms of employment contained in this offer letter
and the attached Development, Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement,
which represent a full, complete and fair statement of the offer of employment
made to me by RealNetworks, Inc.

Sid Ferrales:   /s/ Sid Ferrales

Date: April 12, 2004

                                       3
<PAGE>


                                  ATTACHMENT A
                              COMPENSATION SUMMARY

SALARY: $240,000

TARGET BONUS: Up to 30% of base comp. based on meeting MBO objectives, pending
approval by Comp. Cmte. of Company's 2004 MBO Program and payout targets

SIGNING BONUS: $30,000

STOCK OPTIONS: 200,000 vesting over 5 years per Option Plan

RELOCATION EXPENSE ASSISTANCE: $60,000

SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS: 21,000 lb. Maximum (incl. Up to 2 autos)

STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS: Maximum 30 days

TEMPORARY HOUSING: Up to 6 months/2 return trips home per month

FINAL MOVE EXPENSES: Not to exceed $2,500

HOME FINDING TRIP: 2 roundtrips for employee & guest, 4-days, $2000 max

INCIDENTAL EXPENSES: Up to $3000 Homeowner / up to $1500 Renter

TIME OFF FOR HOME FINDING / MOVING: 5 days

REPAYMENT OF ABOVE: Prorated if voluntarily resign or are terminated for cause
within one year from completion of move

 
                                      4
<PAGE>


                               REALNETWORKS, INC.
            DEVELOPMENT, CONFIDENTIALITY AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT

THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of the 12th day of April, 2004, by
and between RealNetworks, In


 
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