Does ESA's New Hire Signal a Move to RIAA-style Enforcement?
Does ESA's New Hire Signal a Move to RIAA-style Enforcement?
August 19, 2008
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents the interests of U.S. video game publishers, has hired a former executive of the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as the organization's new general counsel.
According to an ESA press release, Kenneth Doroshow will take up his new position with the ESA in September. He succeeds Gail Markels as GC. As GamePolitics reported earlier this year, Markels, who had been with the ESA since its formation in 1994, did not have her contract renewed under new ESA CEO Michael Gallagher. Of Doroshow, Gallagher said:
The ESA continues to attract and recruit the brightest individuals. Ken has remarkable expertise in the protection of intellectual property and an excellent understanding of the increasingly connected, dynamic, and innovative entertainment environment we live in. The computer and video game industry will be well-protected with Ken’s guidance and I know he will help facilitate our growth to even greater heights.
Does Doroshow's hiring signal a move toward the RIAA's controversial copyright enforcement tactics? That's unclear, although the ESA press release touts his experience in that regard:
Doroshow served as Senior Vice President, Litigation and Legal Affairs for the RIAA, the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. As the head of the RIAA’s litigation department, he led efforts to protect the copyrighted works of recording artists and managed cutting-edge anti-piracy lawsuits against companies like LimeWire, Usenet.com and AllofMP3.com.
Doroshow's name also comes up in relation to RIAA strategies aimed at music file sharing by college and university students. Before his RIAA stint, Doroshow served with the Department of Justice as Senior Counsel with the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section. Partick Ross, executive director of the Copyright Alliance, also praised Doroshow:
The copyright community is fortunate to have strong advocates in Washington at a number of trade associations who are working on their behalf, and I am so pleased to see one of these seasoned professionals continue this work to the benefit of the entire creative community. Ken brings a wealth of intellectual property knowledge and experience to the Entertainment Software Association. He has worked in multiple facets of the copyright industries and will be a knowledgeable addition to the ESA. The Copyright Alliance looks forward to continuing to work with Ken in this new role.
A PUBLICATION OF THE ECA
SUBSCRIBE
LOGINGamePolitics ShoutBox
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:27pm
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
ZippyDSMlee: man I got alot of junk and dup files too >< god I need orginization...and no not the knee capping media mafia kind :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:26pm
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
ZippyDSMlee: replaced :P
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:23pm
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
ZippyDSMlee: beemoh:hey its like 60GB porn,400GB anime 100GB games and crap I have took from all my DVDs, I hate waiting on dvds to install stuff..... oh and 40GB of my porn was in the found.000 folder...mostly corrupted.... least I got names of wut needs to be repa
Posted 11/07/09 at 04:18pm
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
beemoh: @Zip: ...and you'd have to spend all that time re-downloading that porn?
Posted 11/07/09 at 03:34pm
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
ZippyDSMlee: ggrrrrr......vista lost one of my hard drives and I had a heart attack thinking I lost 1TB of data....
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
Copyright © 2007 ECA. All rights reserved.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Game Politics and Game Politics logo are trademarks of the ECA.
Comments
So the ESA is looking at bigger guns to protect themselves (and thier personal fortunes). Makes we wonder/worry that this action portends for gamers. Another bout of chasing down mod chips or trying to enforce more limited user rights to end users.
Yeah, I am extremely worried about the direction they are going with things...
Problem is, the ESA is an industry-led organisation, they don't care about consumers, only about their money.
I won't call them out for that, it is their purpose, however, it does explain why sites like Gamepolitics and organisations like the ECA scare the crap out of them, in a way, it's kind of sad because it reminds me of certain other people, they only want their own opinion in view.
Well, let's prepare for the ESA to start an extortion campaign where they use unlicensed investigators, go judge shopping, when they find the right judge, make stuff up to cite as legal precedence, have their technical 'experts' contradict themselves in affadavits and on the stand, lie in affadavits and on the stand, and immediatley settle a case if they feel there is any chance that they will lose and have their illegal tactics officially uncovered to prevent an investigation and bar complaints against their lawyers.
Welcome to the next War on Drugs, people. A government campaign backed by powerful private companies to protect thier buisness intrests that we all know is bullshit, but we don't speak out against it because of the demonization the government and media will do.
You know...association with the RIAA's draconian copyright policies is not something I'd want to advertise, even after hiring this guy.
"We brought on someone new with a proven record of protecting IP. We're confident he'll continue to serve us with the same degree of success and professionalism."
Even the MPAA stayed quiet during the RIAA witch hunts. It was negative publicity all around; EVERYONE could see that (but the RIAA)...
Past tense? The RIAA is still going on witch hunts, fishing expidetions, and wild goose chases. I'd imagine the MPAA didn't take as much action during the Napster thing (which I hope you're referring to) because all large RIAA members other than EMI are also part of the MPAA. However, they're still filing amicus briefs in RIAA cases, which basically amounts to the plantiffs being allowed to argue twice.
Doroshow served as Senior Vice President, Litigation and Legal Affairs for the RIAA, the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. As the head of the RIAA’s litigation department, he led efforts to protect the copyrighted works of recording artists and managed cutting-edge anti-piracy lawsuits against companies like LimeWire, Usenet.com and AllofMP3.com.
That's something to be proud about? Jesus, all they did was alienate users and consumers, and even pushed further on their incredible power trip. I'm sorry ECA.. It looks like I won't be able to support next year's E3 if you even so much as stick a toe in the RIAA's direction.
Mod Chips, Backups, Derivitive Works, Satire, Fair use.. those will be all gone if the new 'hire' will get his way. ECA is starting to lose the backing of the all important CUSTOMER.
*EDIT: Am I getting my E*As confused? ECA.. ESA.. EPA..? I think so...
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Yes, you are. ;)
It's not just cream that floats to the top....
It's called 'failing upwards'.
If Ken's expertise is so remarkable then how come the RIAA is still entrenched in a losing battle?
If you mean their extortion brigade filing lawsuits, it's still somewhat working. Sure, there are problems of whether or not "making available" is the legal equivalent of "distribution", MediaSentry/Safenet needing a private investigator license, Carlos Linaries swearing under oath everything is accurate yet never personally overseeing anything, Dr. Doug Jacobson lying and contradicting himself under oath, while selling software to universities at outrageous prices plus "maintenaince fees" that he claims will filter filesharing and the DMCA letters stopping, judge shopping, Capitol v. Thomas (the only case they have actually won at trial) about to be overturned, constituitonality of the statutory damages above 10x, etc....
But the problem is, very few people fight back. The overwhelming majority settle immediatley. That's why they're still able to go on.
EDIT: Whoops, Capitol v. Thomas is the one case they've won, not Atlantic v. Anderson.
But the problem is, very few people fight back. The overwhelming majority settle immediatley. That's why they're still able to go on.
"Fight us, and we will ruin you, either by your financial situation, your social reputation, or even physical health. The fair game policy applies to you. You have been warned, non-believer."
---- There is a limit for both politicians against video games, and video games against politicians. http://www.goteamretard.com
Sadly, that's pretty much how it is. They're no different from the mob.
In the cases where someone fights back, the RIAA is having to work harder and harder to keep their cases going. Judges are becoming skeptical of their tactics since they are not on secure legal standing, such as their "making avaliable" prevarications.
Ah, but you are confusing reality and perception.
-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/
The moment Nintendo and the ESA kick down my door for owning a modchip for my Wii is the moment I hand them my six imported games, demand a refund, and proceed to tell them "region locking is fucking lame. If I could play this Gundam game without the Modchip, I would. But I can't, so I won't."
And I highly doubt Nintendo, staring at the huge 1200 game collection spanning multiple generations and not a single pirated game among them, is going to say "This guy is worthless to us."
I hate being treated like a thief whether it's in a store, on a label they put on a CD, in a commercial before a movie, or by a company that's raking in millions upon millions but worried about some imaginary number that got away.
How about the ECA stop whining about this and break down the ESA?
And how exactly do you suggest they do that?
The ECA and ESA travel in different circles. And in all honesty I doubt the ECA has the political clout to oust the ESA.
Gamers need game companies for their fix, game companies need gamers for their income. It is a Working system (well mostly when you consider in EA). The ESA is not in that loop as both the companies and the consumer would do fine without them. The ESA is there for the betterment of the ESA. The arguement of needing to protect the companies from pirates and such is weak. If the game companies were truly worried there is always the courts. A ruling body to handle disbutes between companies? The same arguement applies.
In the end the ESA is little more than a parasite. It becomes worrisome when you consider they do have money and political pull, all at the cost of say ethics and morals.
The ECA does not want to remove the ESA. They never have. They publishers have a right to be represented to the government just as much as the customer.
We are however not just whining. We have many things in the works. If you would actually read some of the articles about the ECA, you might have known this.
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
Looks like you aren't following the ECA at all.
Have fun in your own little world.
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
What exactly has the ECA done?
Hal has been on record saying the ESA is an important part of the industry. You could find some of the articles covering this over in the ECA forums.
The ECA along with it's gamer members have been busy fighting legislation that would be detrimental to the consumers. You can find the current list of action actions here. But to list just some them, there's been a fight against the DMCA and for Fair Use, the fight against the Video Game Rating Enforcement Act, as well as various pieces of state legislations.
We've also launched the succesful Gamers for Net Neutrality as well as Gamers for Universal Broadband, both are part of a larger coalition calling on the government to enshrine a free internet and expand high speed internet access. Hope that answers your question.
Brett Schenker
Online Advocacy Manager
the ECA
Want to bring your organization's credibility down a notch or three? Hire somebody from the RIAA.
Good job, ESA!
I agree, however buying used is the best option altho its a shame most used outlets buy new as well, thus why you have to go the extra mile to protect your money from bad media, once you find out something is good by all means buy it, but I no truth the indutry to make 30$+ games..... so I have to verify what lil extra money I have goes to games that are really worth while.
Remember people if you could return media then consumers would be reasonably protect from bad media.
I is fuzzy brained mew =^^=
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/
(in need of a bad overhaul)
So why is he a FORMER member of the RIAA?
Is it becaus ehe was too evil or too good for the dastardly RIAA or did the ESA just give him a better offer.
I've always said that if they were to remake Se7en the RIAA would make a perfect greed victim (and just like the last time people would cheer him on for it).
Unfortunately the ESA will take a long, steady downward spiral if they continue in the path and tactics of the RIAA, as is proven by current economics... It's quite sad, a tragedy really, that even Mike Gallagher fails to see reality from and even he is looking at the completely wrong side of the coin.
A sad day for the ESA indeed...
Though the ESA supports video games, I will no longer be supporting the ESA and I really hope Hal Harpin and co. from the ECA down follow suit and support the ESA in their efforts that are simply in vain. If the ECA does, they will also lose support from many a thousands of gamers in North America.
This just makes the onset of digital downloads in gaming more gloomy. I'm not totally against downloadable games, but it's an easy way to put artificial restrictions on what you can do with the games, and where you can play them. Physical copies tend to leave somewhat less of a paper trail- the purchase is still not totally untraceable, but I'd feel better knowing I have a real disc of the game at hand that I can give to a friend, play it at his house, etc. Share the wealth, as I would say.
I really hope that more companies drop from the ESA now. At least 90% of them.
"The ESA continues to attract and recruit the brightest individuals. Ken has remarkable expertise in the protection of intellectual property and an excellent understanding of the increasingly connected, dynamic, and innovative entertainment environment we live in"
I don't think anyone from the RIAA has anything even remotely resembling an understanding of the "increasingly connected, dynamic, and innovative entertainment environment we live in". They certainly don't understand the consumers they are driving away through their litigious bullying.
very nice sites.good.ankara evden eve nakliyat
Basically, the way things are going. Will be ankara nakliyat nice too bee ankara evden eve nakliyat bu sekildeki yerle evden eve nakliyat yapmaları icin evden eve nakliyat sizlerde bu tip çalışma yapmak isterseniz ankara nakliyat başvurabilirsniz.
very nice sites.good.
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.