Family of Biometric Patents Expanded and Strengthened

SAN DIEGO, Dec. 15, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ImageWare Systems, Inc.
(Pink Sheets:IWSY), a leading developer of identity management
solutions, today announced that it has been awarded two additional
patents, numbers 7,596,246 and 7,606,396, by the United States Patent
and Trademark Office (USPTO), for its scalable, multimodal, biometric
fusion and analysis technologies. These patents describe a system and
method for fusing the matching results of multiple biometrics to
improve the performance and accuracy over the use of a single biometric
for identification and authentication.

The first new patent (# 7,596,246) details ImageWare's intellectual
property as it relates to scalable, multimodal biometric data
management by using multiple, disparate biometric matching technologies
and a "router" by which this data can be created, managed and queried.
This patented open architecture is the foundation by which ImageWare's
Biometric Engine(R) enables the creation of high volume biometric
solutions that use a multitude of biometric matching technologies
leveraging different software and hardware architectures and accessed
by multiple hardware and software clients.

The second new patent (# 7,606,396) defines the process by which
multiple biometric modalities can be combined to accurately identify
one or more individuals. This patent, combined with ImageWare's patent
on Biometric Fusion (# 7,362,884) complement the existing portfolio of
biometric analytical technologies and workflow processes for combining
multiple and disparate biometric matching algorithms to effectively
verify and identify individuals based on multiple biometric modalities.

"ImageWare is the pioneer in providing the market with a flexible,
scalable and agnostic multimodal biometric platform and we are
especially pleased to add these patents to our existing intellectual
property portfolio. This brings our total patent coverage to four
encompassing our Biometric Engine(R) product as well as the fusion of
multiple biometric results into one score for enhanced identification,"
said Jim Miller, ImageWare's Chairman and CEO. "As the biometric
marketplace moves increasingly toward the use of multimodal data, we
believe that there is a significant value to these patents as well as
the additional pending patent applications currently in process by the
Company."

About ImageWare Systems, Inc.

ImageWare Systems, Inc. is a leading developer of identity management
solutions, providing biometric, secure credential and law enforcement
technologies. Scalable for worldwide deployment, the Company's
biometric product line includes a multi-biometric engine that is
hardware and algorithm independent, enabling the enrollment and
management of unlimited population sizes. ImageWare's identification
products are used to manage and issue secure credentials including
national IDs, passports, driver licenses, smart cards and access
control credentials. ImageWare's digital booking products provide law
enforcement with integrated mug shot, fingerprint Livescan and
investigative capabilities. ImageWare is headquartered in San Diego, CA
with offices in Portland, OR, Washington DC, Canada and Mexico. For
more information visit www.iwsinc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release may contain forward-looking statements made pursuant
to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. While these statements are meant to convey to the
public the company's progress, business opportunities and growth
prospects, readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements
represent management's opinion. While management believes such
representation to be true and accurate based on the information
available to the company, actual results may differ materially from
those described. The company's operations and business prospects are
always subject to risks and uncertainties. Important facts that may
cause actual results to differ are set forth in the company's periodic
filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.


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CONTACT:  ImageWare Systems, Inc.
          Wayne Wetherell
          (858) 673-8600