California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
California Pays ESA $283,000 Over 2005 Video Game Law
August 5, 2008
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.
The ESA also notes that the payment comes at a financially difficult time for California, which faces a $15 billion budget gap and laid off 10,000 state workers last week.
As directed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the case remains under appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Gallagher threw a jab at the state on that score as well:
It is unfortunate that the state is stubbornly pursuing an appeal that is likely to lead to even more court-awarded fees.
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Posted 03/15/10 at 04:05pm
Andrew Eisen: I'm still here and I'm doing a lot of behind the scenes work (as time permits me). But it's true, I've only written one piece under the new GP but if that Facebook/JT bit is the last thing I write for the site, I’d be okay with that.
Andrew Eisen: I'm still here and I'm doing a lot of behind the scenes work (as time permits me). But it's true, I've only written one piece under the new GP but if that Facebook/JT bit is the last thing I write for the site, I’d be okay with that.
Posted 03/15/10 at 04:01pm
ZippyDSMlee: I suppose its not inane enough for petes muses*giggles*
ZippyDSMlee: I suppose its not inane enough for petes muses*giggles*
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:55pm
PHX Corp: It had the Video Games tag on it, I thought that it had been a video game law that was concerning it
PHX Corp: It had the Video Games tag on it, I thought that it had been a video game law that was concerning it
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:54pm
JDKJ: And what happened to "Senior GP Correspondent, Andrew Eisen, reporting from San Diego [and who has a better finger on the pulse of GP's readership than some others]?" Huh? Did he fall victim to the Night of the Long Knives?
JDKJ: And what happened to "Senior GP Correspondent, Andrew Eisen, reporting from San Diego [and who has a better finger on the pulse of GP's readership than some others]?" Huh? Did he fall victim to the Night of the Long Knives?
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:53pm
Andrew Eisen: No, but my one example was not meant to cover the entire spectrum. Besides, multiplayer is a big part of video games.
Andrew Eisen: No, but my one example was not meant to cover the entire spectrum. Besides, multiplayer is a big part of video games.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:50pm
Andrew Eisen: PHX Corp - Are you referring to AB 847? I haven't read the bill but the summary doesn't appear to apply to video games.
Andrew Eisen: PHX Corp - Are you referring to AB 847? I haven't read the bill but the summary doesn't appear to apply to video games.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:49pm
DarkSaber: 2 mediocre games do not "a big part of video games" make.
DarkSaber: 2 mediocre games do not "a big part of video games" make.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:49pm
JDKJ: I suspect that'll fall victim to the "pass." Wrong side of the fence. It's North Korea we aren't supposed to like.
JDKJ: I suspect that'll fall victim to the "pass." Wrong side of the fence. It's North Korea we aren't supposed to like.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:48pm
DarkSaber: Although, following the "MW2 Made Lots of Money" excuse for a story, GP would be hard pressed to justify WHY they passed on it.
DarkSaber: Although, following the "MW2 Made Lots of Money" excuse for a story, GP would be hard pressed to justify WHY they passed on it.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:47pm
Andrew Eisen: DS - Not necessarily. See recent Ubisoft stories.
Andrew Eisen: DS - Not necessarily. See recent Ubisoft stories.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:47pm
Andrew Eisen: Zip - Or it will and GP hasn't had a chance in the last couple hours to get to it yet. Or yeah, maybe he’ll pass on it.
Andrew Eisen: Zip - Or it will and GP hasn't had a chance in the last couple hours to get to it yet. Or yeah, maybe he’ll pass on it.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:46pm
DarkSaber: Only if you play multiplayer AE.
DarkSaber: Only if you play multiplayer AE.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:45pm
Andrew Eisen: Except, aside from following up on an earlier story, GP frequently reports on internet censorship and net neutrality issues (the internet being a big part of video games and all).
Andrew Eisen: Except, aside from following up on an earlier story, GP frequently reports on internet censorship and net neutrality issues (the internet being a big part of video games and all).
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:45pm
ZippyDSMlee: I emailed it in DS, if Venezuela gets covered so should south koera but I gues not :P
ZippyDSMlee: I emailed it in DS, if Venezuela gets covered so should south koera but I gues not :P
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:45pm
PHX Corp: The CA S(Foghorn)heads are at it again, instead of banning M rated video games for children They are going to tax the hell out of them Literally and yhis time Yee aint The one trying to do it
PHX Corp: The CA S(Foghorn)heads are at it again, instead of banning M rated video games for children They are going to tax the hell out of them Literally and yhis time Yee aint The one trying to do it
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:39pm
DarkSaber: That is a VERY tenuous link to the "GamePolitics" umbrella, to be sure. One sentence referencing an older story tacked on at the end of 7 paragraphs.
DarkSaber: That is a VERY tenuous link to the "GamePolitics" umbrella, to be sure. One sentence referencing an older story tacked on at the end of 7 paragraphs.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:38pm
JDKJ: And as a change of pace, there's the article with the thinly-veiled criticism of the Chavez administration. Never seen that one before.
JDKJ: And as a change of pace, there's the article with the thinly-veiled criticism of the Chavez administration. Never seen that one before.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:35pm
DarkSaber: OBJECTION! The bobblehead only started being awarded AFTER Dennis got the boot. I mean voluntarily left, sorry.
DarkSaber: OBJECTION! The bobblehead only started being awarded AFTER Dennis got the boot. I mean voluntarily left, sorry.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:33pm
JDKJ: Dennis used to give more than mere "credit." Tipsters used to get a Hal Halpin bobblehead. If you're truly appreciative, show it. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
JDKJ: Dennis used to give more than mere "credit." Tipsters used to get a Hal Halpin bobblehead. If you're truly appreciative, show it. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.
Posted 03/15/10 at 03:33pm
DarkSaber: Good to see GP is in touch with the community as always then.
DarkSaber: Good to see GP is in touch with the community as always then.
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Comments
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.
Yup, our government hard at work when there are better things to be using the tax money on for their salary...
Why did the californians vote for the governator again?
Because the guy before him was ousted for incompetence, and the election to replace him was a 3 ring circus.
-Gray17
So basically the state was screwed no matter what?
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
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/
Because his movie career was over after Batman & Robin.
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.
Andrew Eisen
California should get its budget under control before it starts appealing or passing anything.
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
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/
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.
Remember, it's always Somebody Else's Problem.
I represent Uber-Liberals against Leland Yee.
"Hug a tree, not Leland Yee!"
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".
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/
/b
*insert E3 joke here*
---
The Mammon Industry
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
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
Are they REALLY making them cough up 57 cents?
Can't let a lawyer go without a donut at lunch ;)
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
Do politicians have a negative IQ?
<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.
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
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.
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.