ESA gets $500,000 from IL

Judge orders state to pay trade group's legal fees in successful bid to overturn game legislation.

Add Illinois to the list of states who've had to pick up the tab for Entertainment Software Association legal fees. A judge declared the state's game restriction legislation unconstitutional last December, and today the ESA announced that the same judge has ordered the state to pay the group $510,528.64 in attorney's fees spent overturning the law. In March, the ESA said it was looking to be reimbursed $644,545.

48 Comments

  • syxpack

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 12:02 pm GMT

    It's actually quite sad that state after state keep trying to pass these laws because all it is doing is costing a lot of tax money.

  • imstillwaiting

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 10:45 am GMT

    YAHAHAH i live in illinois they did the right thing CRAZY GOVERNOR

  • Ali_Bubble_67

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 10:20 am GMT

    Haha. Stupid Illinois and their dumb tollways. That's why I live in Wisconsin.

  • bringon22

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 9:58 am GMT

    so thats where my money went to!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • jjjnorton

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 7:51 am GMT

    this isnt as bad as the one in minnessota where the KIDS would get fined for buying games, our govenor is also very corrupt and needs to be kicked out

  • lk1492

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 7:02 am GMT

    OMG!They're completely wasting our tax dollars on this crap when it could have been used for all of those uncomplete road projects going on around here in the middle of Illinois. That p***' me off.

  • JediAutobot

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 6:50 am GMT

    I'm from the Chicagoland area, and I was happy to read this. I was upset over this law, and was happy to see ESA overturn.
    $500,000 is good, well worth it to show the lawmakers and the governor, that there are consequences to half-baked political stunts like this.

  • skemaal

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 6:19 am GMT

    Serves 'em right. Add the states own legal representation so you are looking probably around a million tax payer dollars for a something that, we all agree, a political show. Idiots....

  • bcfish

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 1:18 am GMT

    Wow, I call this salt in the wound for those legistlators. Rock on ESA! Keep up the good fight!

  • sidescroller

    Posted Aug 11, 2006 12:20 am GMT

    This is both awesome and terrible at the same time, and altogether rediculous. It's a victory for gaming, a loss for the citizens of Illinois, and the lawyers walk out with all the cash. And, if I read that article correctly, the ESA lost almost $150,000 in this case?

    It's just disgusting.

  • raven98030

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 11:52 pm GMT

    Do not see this coming

  • CDWJUSTIN

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 11:40 pm GMT

    Tax payers money hard at work...thank god i know its going to a good cause...a load of BS

  • maddemios

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 11:35 pm GMT

    Watch, tomorrow we will read that some other Judge over turn that.

  • Lunatic_Monk

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 11:23 pm GMT

    Jack Thompson, Hilary Clinton, and Joseph Lieberman should be banished to the moon!

  • Kravyn81

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 11:11 pm GMT

    Holy crap that's a lot of money! Imagine how many fishsticks that could buy

  • acidicdot

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 10:52 pm GMT

    It'll sure be nice when we aren't the minority, but at least the judges are doing their jobs correctly. Unlike many vote hungry politians.

  • MJedi

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 10:41 pm GMT

    If these lawmakers would stop proposing these unconstitutional laws, then the state wouldn't need to pay ESA's legal fees.

    The real winners of these legal battles are the lawyers. $500,000!?!

  • rondalescott

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 10:31 pm GMT

    Your tax dollars at work.

  • Doolum

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 9:56 pm GMT

    Oh Sweet Lord....give 'em people some common sense plz

  • gamerchikrpg

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 9:50 pm GMT

    i'm glad to hear. but i live in chicago, and that money could have been put to better use.

    for example. they could have given that money to me. i would use it to build a rocket ship to ship jack thompson off to the moon.

    or buy a ps3. then maybe i could afford one...

  • holhardy

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 9:48 pm GMT

    In the words of Peter Griffin, "Friggin sweet" go ESA

  • JediMasterSheed

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 8:47 pm GMT

    ThePhantomVI:
    "Great. $500,000 that my state could have used for something important, like schools or health care. Then again, our governor is so corrupt that it probably would have been handed over to construction contrators with mob ties."

    I Endorse This Post.

  • niceaznguy721

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:48 pm GMT

    First Amendment FTW!

  • bigelf72

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:41 pm GMT

    hey Badjames...

    You forgot Jack Thompson

  • ThePhantomVI

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:40 pm GMT

    Great. $500,000 that my state could have used for something important, like schools or health care. Then again, our governor is so corrupt that it probably would have been handed over to construction contrators with mob ties.

  • Madrone

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:38 pm GMT

    Someonesaid: the esa dosen't deserve a dime. all those laws are trying to do is to protect children from gta and other m rated games. it's illegal to go to a rated r movie if your under 17. why should videogames be any different? all the esa cares about is money.

    Its not illegal to see movies if your under 17. The MPAA has no LEGAL authority to say what is appropiate or not. (as they are not a government agency nor do they have a governmental mandate).

    It is endorced via an Industry System, but itself has no legal barings.

  • badjames

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:22 pm GMT

    Take that Hilary Clinton and Joseph Lieberman. What they are trying to is unconstitutional. Another victory for the videogame industry!

  • capthunt

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 7:19 pm GMT

    Even tho this is a good win for us( gamers and game industry ) lawyers are still lying manipulative bastards

  • MROmeo10

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:57 pm GMT

    WOW those are some expensive legal fees. No wonder E3 has been downsized; just look at all the money they spend. I think it's good that they're reimbursed for the money they spend overturning the game law.... It's what the forefathers would have wanted go constitutional-ness

  • m0zart Site moderator

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:34 pm GMT

    Donkeljohn wrote:
    Heaven forbid lawmakers should make law. Good thing judges are there to overturn any policies that don't meet the obscure standards of constitutional law.

    Is it your position that because lawmakers make law that they can make just *any* law without repercussions? I mean, if congress were to make a law requiring human beings to be herded into cattle cars, would you not think courts should reverse it based on "obscure standards of constitutional law"?!?

    darfvader wrote:
    Donk: listen i wish you were correct, and that forbiding laws were in place: the ones that don't meet the obscure standards of the second amandment.

    Yeah, those lawmakers were really wrong-headed to take away our constitutional right to bear arms in video games... err....

    I think you meant the first amendment.

  • BIGKILLA

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:34 pm GMT

    B.S.

  • Ottothebobcat

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:33 pm GMT

    dsiscool, the ESA is not opposing the law because of the restriction to the sale of M-rated games, it's opposing the law because the wording is unconstitutional. The ESA recently supported a law that made the sale of M-rated games to minors illegal in a state I can't remember at the moment. Get your facts straight before making ignorant posts.

  • DesRed

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:33 pm GMT

    Cool. Now that's a lot of money.

  • dsiscool

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:28 pm GMT

    the esa dosen't deserve a dime. all those laws are trying to do is to protect children from gta and other m rated games. it's illegal to go to a rated r movie if your under 17. why should videogames be any different? all the esa cares about is money.

  • assassinX01

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:23 pm GMT

    sweet.

  • dadistiller

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:23 pm GMT

    thats awesome but i wonder what the Illinois tax payers think about that ??
    why so states worry bout video games when there are more pressing issues

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:18 pm GMT

    super freakin awesome

  • Global_Nexus

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:13 pm GMT

    Good going. Hit the freaking politicians in one of the two places that actually matter to them -- the pocket book. The other thing is "votes".

    I'm angry at the government wasting my tax dollars MAKING these laws, having almost absolute knowledge that they won't stand up in court. But I'm glad the ESA got paid. Maybe that'll open at least one politician's eyes. Sadly, it'll probably only shut them further. Thankfully, that's what my vote is for.

  • elessartelrunya

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:10 pm GMT

    Serves IL right.

  • darfvader

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:08 pm GMT

    Donk: listen i wish you were correct, and that forbiding laws were in place: the ones that don't meet the obscure standards of the second amandment.

  • rawpower

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:08 pm GMT

    ESA 1
    IL 0

    pwnage.

  • Panzerfaust1014

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:07 pm GMT

    Thats what Illinois gets for trying to throw a wrench into the gaming industy, lucky my state doesnt care lol

  • kingeric420

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 6:04 pm GMT

    I live in IL and I think we should hang that motherf@#$%^!

  • 255Loner

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:56 pm GMT

    That's horrible. I feel bad for the taxpayers of Illinois. I'm sure they're pretty miffed over this.

  • Donkeljohn

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:51 pm GMT

    Heaven forbid lawmakers should make law. Good thing judges are there to overturn any policies that don't meet the obscure standards of constitutional law.

  • duckdodgers13

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:49 pm GMT

    Haha there's no stopping the ESA now.

  • GabeBlack

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:45 pm GMT

    dang right

  • kefka95

    Posted Aug 10, 2006 5:45 pm GMT

    Go ESA

advertisement

Hot Stories

Newsmakers

Featured Stories

Tags

esa   illinois

Submit News

Got tips? Send them in!