WASHINGTON – April 30, 2025 – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) issued the following statement on the 2025 Special 301 Report released by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). This statement can be attributed to ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis.
“We congratulate Ambassador Greer, the staff at USTR and their interagency partners on the release of the 2025 Special 301 Report. Intellectual property (IP) protection serves as the cornerstone for the video game sector. Our industry applauds USTR’s continued work to promote strong IP laws and break down enforcement and market access challenges abroad. By working with industry to understand how burdensome regulations hinder the delivery of leading interactive entertainment to consumers worldwide, the Special 301 Report supports the ability of creative industries to promote creativity and innovation and to protect the investments that make video games possible.
“In particular, ESA appreciates the attention given in this year’s report to the important work being done through Brazil’s National Council on Combating Piracy and Intellectual Property Crimes, as well as the need for Brazil to join international treaties that update copyright protection for the digital environment. We also recognize promising efforts in recent months by the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) with strategic actions in combating online and physical piracy, as well as counterfeit goods. ESA looks forward to working with USTR and the government of Mexico to address long-standing concerns with respect to copyright enforcement, and to implement Mexico’s newly adopted legal provisions to criminalize circumvention of TPMs and establish a notice-and-takedown process driven by rights holders.”
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