Is it possible that the suits at the ESA have a sense of humor?

We have to ask because yesterday was International Talk Like a Pirate Day (Yarrr!) and, lo and behold, an e-mail arrived from the ESA trumpeting the jail sentence imposed on a game software pirate in California.

From the press release:

In June 2007, acting on a tip from ESA investigators, members of the Computer and Technology Crime High-Tech Response Team (CATCH) arrested [Frederick] Brown for trafficking in pirated game software. A search of his premises resulted in the confiscation of hundreds of illegal game discs. On August 1, 2007, Mr. Brown pleaded guilty to two felony counts of trafficking in counterfeit products.

Said Ric Hirsch, the ESA's IP enforcer:
 

We commend the work of the San Diego CATCH team and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. Sentences that include jail time send a clear message that violating intellectual property rights is a serious crime with significant consequences and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Brown definitely took a lashing. On top of the jail time, the judge imposed a $100,000 fine and the convicted pirate must reimburse the ESA $10,000. And when he gets out, it's unlikely that Brown will be playing much Pirates of the Burning Sea, since his computer time will also be restricted.

So - if someone at the ESA planned the subtle humor behind all of this, well played!

If not, we'll just chalk it up as an incredibly serendipitous week for the video game biz, given that a federal judge in Oklahoma threw out that state's video game law on constitutional grounds on Monday, which just happened to be Constitution Day here in the United States.