Sony hopes today marks the beginning of the end of the rampant piracy seen on its PSP platform. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 , released today, is Sony's first test at discouraging pirates from downloading PSP software.

Those who purchase SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3 are now required to register the title through PlayStation Network before given access to online gameplay. UMD copies of the game will come with a voucher code that must be redeemed online, while digital copies will automatically register in the background. Those who buy a used copy of the UMD can purchase a PSN entitlement voucher for $20 to play online.We spoke recently with John Koller , director of hardware marketing at SCEA, about this new initiative to combat piracy on PSP and when we may see it appear on other titles and platforms. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 is the first title to introduce the new online entitlement feature. As with many programs, we're investigating future opportunities, but we have no announcements to make on it at this time.Today's consumers are more tech savvy and better connected to the internet than ever before. Piracy continues to be an issue of concern for the PSP platform. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 3 is a trial run for a new initiative we are exploring for the platform. We will continue to explore this as an opportunity for the platform going forward, but we have no announcements to make on future iterations at this time.Piracy remains a concern on the PSP platform, but the launch of the PSPgo and the ability to access the PlayStation Store directly from PSP-3000 were significant steps towards fighting piracy and getting consumers to download digital games legally. Since then we've seen a steady rise in digital game sales and PSPgo has undoubtedly played a critical role in helping to minimize the impact of piracy on the PSP platform.No one will dispute that piracy has a negative impact on software sales. We're continuing to take proactive steps in the fight against piracy and believe this new initiative will be of benefit to the gaming industry.From the largest publishers to the smallest developers, piracy is an issue that impacts everyone in the industry. We've been working closely with our development teams and publishing partners on this new initiative to help educate consumers on the importance of piracy-protection.From our research, this will be received quite positively. Remember, piracy affects more than just the creators of the game. It also affects the consumers who purchase titles expecting a high-quality gaming experience. Game development is a long and costly process that can take years to create and many more dollars to develop, manufacture, market and distribute.Our goal is to keep this development pipeline flowing with creative new IPs, well known franchises and pick up and play experiences that all can legally enjoy. That's something that all fans can be happy about.