ESA cuts Q2 lobbying spend by 5%

Industry trade body pours $1.1 million into Washington efforts during April-June quarter, adds attention to privacy, consumer protection.

With 11 states now supporting California's appeal to the US Supreme Court over violent video game legislation, the Entertainment Software Association has quite the fight on its hands. However, that legal wrangling hasn't given the ESA cause to increase its spending on lobbying efforts in Washington. In fact, during the April-June quarter, the industry's representative body actually curtailed spending.

The ESA is just looking for a little privacy.

According to a filing with the Office of the Clerk to the US House of Representatives, the ESA spent $1.1 million on swaying the opinion of lawmakers during the three-month period. That figure marks a 5 percent decline from the $1.2 million the ESA has spent on industry issues during each quarter since April 2009.

The ESA largely stuck to the same issues it traditionally advocates. These topics include constitutional issues, copyright law (piracy, intellectual property, and patent modernization), trade concerns, Internet governance, and access to H1-B visas for highly skilled workers. The industry body also addressed telecommunication issues--broadband policy, in particular--and attempted to sway lawmakers on the Energy Star standards.

Despite spending less on lobbying, the ESA actually added new issues to its dossier during the quarter. These included the Consumer Product Improvement Safety Act and various privacy-related topics.

Known primarily among gamers as the organizer behind the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the ESA also runs the Video Game Voters Network. Additionally, the ESA plays a large role in opposing restrictive game legislation, touting last year a 43-0 record. Members of the organization range from first-party publishers Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo to third-party outfits of various sizes, including EA, Ubisoft, Epic Games, and 505 Games.

11 Comments

  • gbrading Site moderator

    Posted Aug 1, 2010 12:24 pm PT

    It always amazes me where the ESA gets this kind of money, but I suppose they are funded from somewhere. Video gaming is a "special interest".

  • Willis1

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 8:43 pm PT

    Unfathomable debt and an oil spill yet we cling to petty things to ban/make illegal/control. If we took all this effort and pooled it towards the real issues maybe something would actually get done. People aren't gonna stop being fat and lazy because you're starting to regulate video games.

  • Darth_Tyrranus

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 3:14 pm PT

    That's great, ESA....now why don't you do the citizens of the United States a huge favor and cut ALL lobby spending this year. Lobbying is nothing more than a euphemism for bribes.

  • ptown58

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 11:50 am PT

    Not all lobbyists are evil , some are actually there for to do good for other humans.

  • ptown58

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 11:40 am PT

    Good news ? ESA doesn't see Blue Dog Democrat Leland "I'll tell you how to live your life and make it law" Yee and his "save the kids" bill as a threat ?

  • EKGProd

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 11:35 am PT

    Uh oh....I just finished playing Serious Sam HD.....It was so....VIOLENT!.......Must....resist....urge....to kill! AHHHHH IT WARPED MY FRAGILE MIND!!! I NEED VIOLENCE TO SURVIVE! KILL KILL KILL!!!!..................Wait, nevermind, everything is ok. I just put on some violent movie and It reversed the awful murder rage that the video game threw me in. All is good now.

  • grigjd3

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 8:43 am PT

    @cheater2000, politicians attack Hollywood all the time.

  • endocrine

    Posted Jul 30, 2010 12:55 am PT

    @formerroadie

    I would reserve the bottom for politicians, as they take bribes from lobbyists and give them favors in return.

  • cheater2000

    Posted Jul 29, 2010 5:15 pm PT

    @Iamramses How else do you think politicians and such never attack Hollywood.

  • formerroadie

    Posted Jul 29, 2010 4:33 pm PT

    lobbyists are the bottom feeders of the world.

  • iamramses

    Posted Jul 29, 2010 1:42 pm PT

    I never new videogaming needed lobbyists... crazy...

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