ESA spent $714k on Q1 lobbying
Disclosure reveals First Amendment issues, IP protection, piracy and patent reform were on the agenda
The US videogames trade body, the Entertainment Software Association, spent USD 714,000 on lobbying the federal government in the first quarter of 2008, according to its latest disclosure.
High on the agenda were First Amendment issues as well as measures to promote the interests of children with respect to videogames, such as parental controls and ratings awareness, reports AP.
On the trade side the ESA attempted to tackle IP protection and piracy issues, as well as patent reform and trade, with US Congress and a number of other offices - including the US Trade Representative and the Commerce Department - on the hitlist.
The ESA, which is responsible for organising the E3 trade event in Los Angeles, has recently been hit with some high profile departures, including Activision and LucasArts, and was also embroiled in a public spat with the Entertainment Consumers Association last week.