LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The U.S. video game industry lost at least $1.9 billion to global piracy last year, half of which came from Korea and China, an industry trade group said on Thursday.
The Washington, D.C.-based Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) said its estimate was included in a report the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) will file with the United States Trade Representative on Friday
The group is asking for U.S. trade officials to take action against 50 countries that the IIPA alleges do not do enough to stop software piracy, including the unauthorized copying of video and PC games, a fast growing market.
According to IDSA figures, total U.S. sales of video games in 2001 were $6.35 billion.
"(There) are at least 100 other countries around the globe where there is virtually no legitimate market for our products due to rampant piracy," Doug Lowenstein, the president of the association, said in a statement.
The trade group represents all of the top U.S. publishers, including Electronic Arts Inc. and Activision Inc.