Nintendo claims piracy costs it $975 million in 2007

Nintendo might be winning the console war but it has another front to fight on. It has long been battling game pirates around the world, working closely with local authorities to clamp down on pirates in several countries including Mexico and China.

So when the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) submitted a “Special 301” filing with the US Trade Representatives regarding videogame piracy around the world, Nintendo just had to comment on it, out of its sheer repugnance for piracy.

The console manufacturer wants piracy to be dealt with more severely in many countries, naming China, Korea, Brazil, Hong Kong, Paraguay and Mexico as the prime hubs of piracy of Nintendo products. Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America’s senior director of anti-piracy, said in an official statement that the success of Nintendo Wii and DS made Nintendo a lucrative target for game pirates. According to Nintendo’s estimates, the company lost $975 million to piracy of its products around the world.

I believe that many countries not only need to emplace strict laws with a stern punitive deterrent to counter piracy but also relax taxes and duties currently levied on videogame products, which are very high in countries like India that are potentially big markets .

Read [Gamespot] Also Read [Neoseeker]