a difference between a new and used board in the context of this problem? We mean, do you think the American operator should have always been allowed to buy a used board from a foreign operating company, or even a broker ... or, should even used boards be constrained from U.S. import?

4. Answer: The importation and use of used boards by many U.S. operators could cause problems from the point of view of game quality and mechanical reliability. Accordingly, we would encourage the operators to purchase only new boards.

5. Question: The U.S. law is on the books and goes into effect Dec. 1. But, does JAMMA or any of its members intend pursuing any steps to prevent or curtail the flow of parallels into the U.S. ?It seems that the video manufacturers in Japan could quite easily deny shipments of product to suspected brokkers if they wanted to.

5. Answer: It would be very difficult to prevent or even curtail the flow of parallel boards into the U.S. since the transactions for these boards must be conducted basically within the environment of free competition. However, preventive measures must be established to prevent the flow of illegal copies.

6. Question: The real glamour of a parallel board is the price. Since very few video games are built in dedicated form these days, other than the big arcade pieces, the real situation is this: the price of the parallel board vs. the price of an authorized kit. Is that really a savings for the operator?

6. Answer: It is extremely difficult to discuss the comparative pricing of parallel boards and authorized kits, the primary reason being that parallel boards are often used boards and there is a strong possibility that skillfully made illegal copies are mixed therewith, whereas the authorized kits are new products, the prices of which to some extent must reflect the R & D costs.

7. Question: The number one fear is that counterfeit boards will once again flow into the U. S. once the parallel law goes into effect. And this must be addressed at the

root... at the Japanese video game maker's door. What are you doing, and what more can you do, to prevent the return of the copy games?

7. Answer: As you know, we have been quite active in attempting to prevent the flow of illegal copies. Many of the so-called parallel boards are illegal copies and we have been able to determine the names of companies which are involved in the creation and sale of these illegal copies. We have taken and will continue to take all necessary legal steps to completely eliminate such illegal copies.

In conclusion, we believe that the recently passed amendment to HR. 5316 will definitely increase the flow of parallel boards. We are concerned that such flow of parallel boards would be contaminated by numerous skillfully made counterfeits, which will be sold at very low prices. Such would discourage the R&D activities of game creators and in turn, would adversely affect the orderly business activities of distributors as well as the operators. The long-term effect on the international coin-op games industry would be devastating.

The only savior is to eliminate the illegal copies from the industry. In this regard, we have seized every opportunity, such as during the JAMMA Show in Tokyo, to exchange views on this subject with the re

sponsible members of the industry. I am attaching hereto a copy of a Joint Statement which resulted from one of these occasions. The recent action by the U.S. government has increased the significance of our past and ongoing activities to eliminate illegal copies. I feel it is now time for game developers, manufacturers, distributors and operators to come to a single forum to discuss and agree on ways for the industry to eliminate illegal copies and to exert joint efforts for the international development and prosperity of the industry.

With best wishes, Yours very truly, Masaya Nakamura Chairman

Enclosed with Mr. Nakamura's letter was a copy of a 1983 Joint Statement from JAMMA andAAMA announcing "our intention to make continuing and tireless efforts towards further strengthening our cooperation, so that all plagiarism still found throughout the world will be eliminated, so that our rights will be securely protected on a world-wide level and so that the industry will become well-recognized by the public and be worthy of its respect." The statement was datelined Tokyo, Sept. 27, 1983 and was signed by JAMMA Chairman Mr. Masaya Nakamura and then president of AAMA, Joe Robbins.

RePlay Editor Marcus Webb with Masaya Nakamura during recent interview in Japan. "He is an intellectually keen, honest and imaginative gentleman," said Webb of the JAMMA 8r Namco supremo.