The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today congratulated the U.S. Trade Representative on its successful conclusion of Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the South Korean government. The agreement, if approved by Congress, is expected to result in enhanced protections and more favorable trade treatment for a range of digital products, including computer and video games.

"We welcome the news that trade negotiations were productive and fruitful for both the U.S. and South Korea," said Stevan Mitchell, vice president for Intellectual Property Policy for the ESA, the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "We look forward to studying the results."

The ESA said it expects the treaty to provide for non-discriminatory and duty-free treatment for all digital products, including computer and video games, whether imported in physical form or over the Internet. It also predicts that the agreement will contain requirements to establish strong anti-circumvention protections that prohibit tampering with technologies designed to prevent piracy of industry products.

South Korean publishers are widely-regarded as innovators in the entertainment software industry, particularly with respect to online games. Industry experts agree that this treaty will promote additional opportunities for South Korean and U.S. game publishers with regard to sales, investment and future collaboration.

"South Korea is the world's leader in broadband deployment, which makes its commitments to protecting products from online infringement a natural model for other countries to follow," concluded Mitchell.