ELSPA SINKS SOFTWARE PIRATES

Monday 28 February 2005/... ELSPA today celebrates the success of its ongoing clampdown on computer and video game piracy in the UK, with the release of its 2004 raid figures.

ELSPA's dedicated anti-piracy unit has achieved consistently good results ever since it was founded in 1994, conducting on average 10 raids per week. In 2004, a total of 538 raids were carried out across the country, resulting in the removal of well over £4 million worth of copied games from the marketplace and the successful prosecution of 67 software counterfeiters.

Roger Bennett, director general of ELSPA commented: "We have seen an encouraging set of results from the past few years which reflect the outstanding efforts of our tireless anti-piracy team and its strong relationships with Trading Standards, Police and other industry trade bodies. While this is just the tip of the iceberg, we are committed to increasing the pressure on criminal activity that undermines the performance of not only our members, but of the industry as a whole."

John Hillier, manager of ELSPA's Anti-Piracy Unit said: "We are stepping up our investigations into Internet piracy for 2005, building relationships with service providers and maintaining close observations on potentially illegal trading. Whilst we are fully aware of the potential risks to the industry from this kind of piracy, as it currently stands the main threat on the streets today remains the more 'traditional' dealer in physical products."

EDITORS NOTES

About ELSPA - http://www.elspa.com

ELSPA (The Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) was founded in 1989 to establish a specific and collective identity for the computer and video games industry. Membership includes almost all companies concerned with the publishing and distribution of interactive leisure software in the UK.

ELSPA's activities include: Official Chart and Industry Reports, Anti-Piracy UK and EU, PR and Communication, Events. More information on all these activities can be found at http://www.elspa.com.

The UK Interactive Leisure Software Industry - Facts & Figures from ELSPA/Screen Digest/Chart-Track:

• The UK is a world centre for games development.

• In 2003, UK sales of video games, other leisure software products and games consoles topped £2 billion, for the second year running.

• Over 20,000 people are employed in the UK leisure software sector.

• British developed games generated more than £1.1 billion in retail sales outside the UK in year 2000. 33% of all PS2 games bought in Europe originate in the UK (the same proportion as US originated products and ahead of Japan and any other country).

For further information on ELSPA or to arrange interviews, please contact:

DEBORAH COSTER/ EMMA COWIE

BARRINGTON HARVEY

Tel: 01462 456780

Fax: 01462 456781

Email: debi.coster@bhpr.co.uk / emma.cowie@bhpr.co.uk

Issued by: Barrington Harvey, Trooper's Yard, Bancroft, Hitchin SG5 1JW