Hot off the press, or at least hot out of GamePolitics' e-mail client, is a press release from the Entertainment Software Association, the trade association of U.S. game publishers. In the release, ESA honcho Doug Lowenstein calls on the Malaysian government to crack down on game software pirates. The ESA request comes after Malaysia was included on a Watch List of countries released today by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

Lowenstein applauded the action of the USTR, adding:

"Malaysia is the primary source of pirated optical disc entertainment software in the world. The prevalence of pirated products and their export from the country hinders the development of legitimate entertainment software markets in target export countries, and makes it extremely difficult for game publishers to establish legitimate markets in those areas. Exports of pirated entertainment software produced in Malaysia have been seized in over 20 countries on five continents. The problem of production and export by optical disc factories in Malaysia must be immediately addressed."

The USTR's "Special 301 Report" identifies countries where piracy is rampant and whose copyright protection and enforcement efforts are failing to address the problems. The report also enumerates barriers that deter the import of legitimate U.S. intellectual property products.

While, according to the ESA, Malaysia remains the "primary country of concern" for the computer and video game industry, large-scale game pirating operations are ongoing in China, Russia, Thailand, and Ukraine. Neither the Malayasian Consulate or the Malaysian Trade Office, both in New York, had any comment on the USTR report when reached by GamePolitics.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Of course, GamePolitics knew all about this USTR business. But if you didn't, here's the 411:

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries. The head of USTR is the U.S. Trade Representative, a Cabinet member who serves as the president's principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues. USTR is part of the Executive Office of the President. The current Acting United States Trade Representative is Ambassador Peter F. Allgeier (at left). However, Rob Portman, a Republican and former Congressman from the 2nd District of Ohio, has just been confirmed by the Senate as the new USTR.