The Entertainment Software Association, which represents the interests of US game publishers, issued a press release today announcing that it had received a check for $282,794 from the state of California.
The money represents legal fees incurred by the video game industry while contesting California's 2005 video game law. The statute was declared unconstitutional by a U.S. District Court Judge in August, 2007.
Commenting on the payment, ESA CEO Michael Gallagher said:
California deserves more from its legislators than pursuing flawed legislation. State employees are facing pay cuts. California’s services are being scaled back. And, anxiety is rising in Sacramento to find funds. Rather than tackling real problems affecting Californians, they chose to waste time, money and state resources. It is shameful that legislators pursued personal agendas in spite of the facts.
Caregivers are not well-served by court battles and legal fees. Rather, they would have been far better off if state officials worked together with our industry to raise awareness about video game ratings and the parental controls available on all new game consoles—both of which help ensure that the games children play are parent-approved.
It is unfortunate that the state is stubbornly pursuing an appeal that is likely to lead to even more court-awarded fees.
Comments
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Thanks good job;
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing travesti or little and need to start saving costs. and dizi izle
YES.
Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!
Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?
Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.
But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Gallagher can araç kiralama say all he wants, but I strongly rent a car believe it's due to his crappy leadership and E3 being a joke. ESA's Board of Directors need to find a way to get out rent a car of this horrid contract with this Bush cronie before there's no one left on the Board.
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing ttnet vitamin or little and need to start saving costs.
YES.
Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!
Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?
Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.
But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
My Grandmother must be old school. She said that the reason the ESA fights these laws is over a fear of losing money on M rated game sales. She had said that she read a commentary article when she was in Manassas Park, VA where the writer's header was, "ESA fights ID Check Laws-First Amendment Violation or Profit Protection?".
Ben
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
<sigh> My tax dollars at work.
And Grey Davis was not that incompetent. He was actually pretty decent, as Governors go for California. The recall succeeded because enough stupid people in SoCal were pissed off that he didn't repeal the SUV tax like he said he would.
Of course, they're all paying $4.50+ a gallon at the pump now, so I suppose there is some justice in the world, however much it hurts everyone else.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Do politicians have a negative IQ?
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Are they REALLY making them cough up 57 cents?
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
57 cents is still money that is owed to a lawyer. Why should the ESA or their lawyers lose even a single cent over something that's California's fault?
-Gray17
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Can't let a lawyer go without a donut at lunch ;)
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Another state government gets slapped in the face. Californians might as well just start giving their tax dollars to the ESA if California's going to appeal the decision.
M. Carusi
Capitol Gaming
augamers.blogspot.com
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
/b
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
That specific amount of cash goes to paying their lawyers and reembersing them on other lawsuit related fees.
I don't think any of it goes directly into their pockets.
E. Zachary Knight
http://www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
*insert E3 joke here*
---
The Mammon Industry
Fangamer
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Everyone knows Court-Awarded Fees are the Bonus Points of the Judicial system.
But yeah, you'd think California would worry less about their bruised judicial ego and just cut their losses on fighting against the "evils of videogames".
Yee: "I'm ready, and I look forward to this fight..."
I'd love to see him try to push this to the SCOTUS since he's gotta satisfy his own ego no matter how much it will cost the state.
http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/6570/1/
Yee needs to pay this bill personally
Leland Yee should be paying this fee out of his own salary. I wish he would get some bad press about this, but unfortunately there are a lot of "uber-liberals" in this state who just feel he is doing the "right thing" no matter what. The ESA should collect interest on Schwarzeneggers' misguided meddling and let Yee's sorry excuse for a law just die off. Yee is also proof that just because you have a Ph. D does not mean you are any more insightful or intelligent than your average educated voting citizen.
Ultimately, Yee just a symptom to a bigger problem-a culture of finger pointers, and not problem solvers.
Re: Yee needs to pay this bill personally
I represent Uber-Liberals against Leland Yee.
"Hug a tree, not Leland Yee!"
Re: Yee needs to pay this bill personally
Remember, it's always Somebody Else's Problem.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Wow... the state has to lay off hundreds of part time workers but seems to have the $283,000 dollars to pay off the settlement from a BS law that they tried to pass... Man I hate this state, should maybe move to Montana, except that there ain't nothing out there.
"The Good, the Bad, and Videogame"
Reviews on the best, worst, and controversial issues of Videogames.
gryphonosiris.blogspot.com/
"The Good, the Bad, and the Videogame" Reviews on the best, worst, and controversial issues of Videogames. gryphonosiris.blogspot.com/
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Sure eclipses the $56367 they are seeking from Oklahoma. Not that Oklahoma is any better of a position and we have a lower level of income producing businesses here.
Sucks that they want to spnd more in appealing the failed law.
E. Zachary Knight
http://www.editorialgames.com
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
MySpace Page: http://www.myspace.com/okceca
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1325674091
E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
California should get its budget under control before it starts appealing or passing anything.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Andrew Eisen
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Why did the californians vote for the governator again?
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Arnold was elected because of his celebrity. which makes him a hypocrite for signing this law and thus slapping the industry that made him a public figure that aided in his election.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Because his movie career was over after Batman & Robin.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Because the guy before him was ousted for incompetence, and the election to replace him was a 3 ring circus.
-Gray17
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
So basically the state was screwed no matter what?
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
More or less, there might have been someone competant running, but if so, it got lost in the chaos:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_California_recall
That's the long version. The short version is that there were dozens of candidates, so few actually experienced people ran.
-Gray17
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Those who ran include a porn star, a pin-up model, Gary Coleman, a punk rocker, a college student, a guy rumored to be investigated for murder, Larry Flint, the owner of Ask.com, a girl that sold Georgi for Govenor Thongs, and a TV Producer.
Yeah, didn't vote in this one, as you don't elect people in a three ring circus.
"The Good, the Bad, and Videogame"
Reviews on the best, worst, and controversial issues of Videogames.
gryphonosiris.blogspot.com/
"The Good, the Bad, and the Videogame" Reviews on the best, worst, and controversial issues of Videogames. gryphonosiris.blogspot.com/
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Seesh even though they have to pay 283,000 dollars they are still going to see if it can pass later on. WOW these politicions NEVER learn.
Re: California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
Yup, our government hard at work when there are better things to be using the tax money on for their salary...