The U.S.-based Entertainment Software Association expressed support of the Obama administration's newly-announced Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property, which aims to curb IP theft. “We applaud the Justice Department for its commitment to protecting intellectual property and commend the Attorney General for his leadership in establishing the new Intellectual Property Task Force,” said Michael Gallagher, CEO of the ESA, the trade group that represents the games industry. Attorney General Eric Holder announced plans to form the IP Task Force late last week. “The Attorney General’s support creates an environment for growth—both economically and creatively—that generates innovative computer and video games for enthusiasts and helps protect the jobs of countless contributors who bring these products to market.” The ESA is actively involved in IP-related issues within the games industry, including combating piracy. The group estimates that piracy cost the entertainment software industry $3 billion in 2007, not including Internet piracy. Executives from the movie, music, and software industries also showed support for the new task force. “Intellectual property is the lifeblood and backbone of entertainment software,” Gallagher added. “Consumers benefit with the lower cost, high-quality and more diverse title offerings that are made possible by strong measures protecting the creative works of our industry’s artists.”