ESA collects $280K from California

California forks over thousands in attorney-fee reimbursement after state's failed fight to pass game-restriction legislation.

In the last few years, American taxpayers have forked over hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Entertainment Software Association due to lawmakers' failed attempts to legislate the gaming industry. Illinois, Michigan, and Minnesota have all been ordered to reimburse the group's legal fees in recent years, with the Land of Lincoln being hit for $500,000.

Today the ESA is adding to its tally. The trade group has collected $282,794 from the state of California in reimbursed legal fees over a defeated game law. The ESA had originally demanded reimbursement of $320,000 from the state.

Drafted by state senator Leland Yee and signed by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2005, the law would have criminalized the sale of violent games to minors. It also would have required a two-inch-by-two-inch sticker with a solid white "18" outlined in black to appear on the front cover of such games.

"California deserves more from its legislators than pursuing flawed legislation," ESA CEO Michael Gallagher said in a statement. "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."

The law was initially blocked from taking effect, and then declared unconstitutional. California is appealing that decision.

46 Comments

  • Infinite-Zr0

    Posted Feb 22, 2009 12:32 pm GMT

    Thats nice, another bill for California that it can't pay.

  • residentzombie2

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 8:41 am GMT

    Timstuff: Arnie is officially labeled as a Republican; however, his wife Maria Shriver is a Democratic in office and alot of people don't view Arnie as a true Republican. He does have Democratic tendancies.

  • Warghost2k

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 4:45 am GMT

    residentzombie2: You are absolutely right, which is why Democrats are so dangerous. They want socialism here in the States, just like the failing systems in Europe. Republicans are greedy, but at least they don't buy into complete control over the people. Think I'm wrong? Just wait until the next Democrat takes office.

  • Warghost2k

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 4:41 am GMT

    Ya know, it's a shame that we can't find a better punishment for these "legislators". How about this? Since none of those morons has to pay the money back personally (the citizens do), we make them work at a Gamestop or Electronics Boutique retail store for one year. Since they're so concerned about minors buying these games, let's force these idiots to enforce their own rules themselves. If I were President, things would be a lot different here.

  • mice16

    Posted Aug 7, 2008 2:41 am GMT

    So... They think that bigger stickers are the solution. Riiight.

  • Merl57

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 4:44 pm GMT

    great news

  • ctortolini

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 2:29 pm GMT

    I can remember some Schwarzeneger movies that were quite violent... and they were rated as E or T...

  • Timstuff

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 11:57 am GMT

    Fynne, Arnie is a Republican, and Leeland Yee is a Democrat. It just comes to show, politicians are willing to reach across party lines if it means they get to screw over the people who elected them.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 10:17 am GMT

    if you want the government to tell you how to live, move to europe please. enjoy being video tapped on every intersection and having a chip put in your body to be tracked at all times.

  • residentzombie2

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 7:58 am GMT

    You can compare Democrats to Communists, not much difference having the People have as few rights as possible and having the Government control as much as possible. Democrats think that citizens are idiots and need the government to tell them what to do. Thats why they want more taxes, more taxes equals more government funding to provide more government responsiblity and less freedoms in the market place. Problem is America is the land of Freedom and when Democrats are in office we slowly and surely loss our Freedoms one by one in favor of having Democratic government take control of those things.

  • residentzombie2

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 7:27 am GMT

    "California deserves more from its legislators than pursuing flawed legislation," ESA CEO Michael Gallagher said in a statement. "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."

    HAHA funny thing is is that the ESA is a Union/lobby group and the same thing they said about CA law makers can be said about themselves. Unions increase membership fees every year and are greedy themselves (why major publishers are leaving the ESA) and that cost of membership dues are passed along to the retail consumers purchasing the games with are tax payers as well. If membership fees for publishers weren't as large as they are now, games would become way more affordable to develop.

  • mikewalsh69

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 7:25 am GMT

    it's good to see that the courts are ruling in favour of a gaming organisation

  • residentzombie2

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 7:22 am GMT

    Democrats are the political figures that want more control to be our mommy and daddy not Republicans. Republicans beleive in a strong FREE market with as little government intervention as possible

  • Briantb_2008

    Posted Aug 6, 2008 12:11 am GMT

    I would say its a lesson but theres to many idoits in power and I know it will happen again

  • acsam12304

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:44 pm GMT

    i live in CA and i know we are getting riped off by our state law makers. come on a bag tax on paper or plastic bag u take out of the market or any retail store the tax will cost $.20 per bag. i mean WTF.. also schools and the Teacher Union crying they dont have no money here in CA for schools. if that is the case how are they getting money to run commercials off the TV and radio!? i mean come on who fund those ads the Teachers Union hello and they dont say they dont have money for anything.?

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:23 pm GMT

    Thats a pretty big sticker Arnie, make plenty for Rockstar games. lol

  • fynne

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:08 pm GMT

    I think Arnold and Leland are both Republicans....

    You'd think that politicians would run these things by professional lawyers first, who would tell them that the ESA has WON EVERY CASE.

  • Nemephosis

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 9:21 pm GMT

    I like how California's whining about wasting time and money... aren't they the ones trying to infringe on everyone's constitutional rights with these stupid game laws in the first place? Maybe they should get the hint and realize it isn't going to pass.

  • JBDragon

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 9:20 pm GMT

    California is already bankrupt. What's a little more I guess. Of course all the Democrats want to RAISE taxes some more. Because we all know how that works out. You could give them 90% of your pay and it still would never be enough. How about this, CUT SPENDING. There are states with No state Tax and people are flocking to them. They seem to do just fine. Police and Fire is still there. Kids are still in School, where's all the money going? It's being wasted on BS like this for one thing.

  • Nemephosis

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 9:17 pm GMT

    I like how California's whining about wasting time and money... aren't they the ones trying to infringe on everyone's constitutional rights with these stupid game laws in the first place? Maybe they should get the hint and realize it isn't going to pass.

  • Nemephosis

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 9:16 pm GMT

    I like how California's whining about wasting time and money... aren't they the ones trying to infringe on everypne's constitutional rights with these stupid game laws in the first place? Maybe they should get the hint and realize it isn't going to pass.

  • Leria

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 9:05 pm GMT

    Yet another waste of money.... I swear, when will these Democrat idiots (I'm usually on their side, but not in this case) realize that games have absolutely NOTHING to do with children being violent. What does? Their parents never telling them as a child that it is TOTALLY wrong to use violence against another person (as my parents told me!) or their parents actually physically or emotionally (usually both) abusing them!

    Stop concentrating on the games, start concentrating on the violence in real life and stop telling children that violence against another person is okay in ANY situation, save when that person is trying to kill you and it is your absolute last choice to keep them from killing you.

  • Sparktony

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 8:32 pm GMT

    i think this all will end when Thompson and Clinton are gone wouldnt that be a good day for gamers

  • Proman84

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 7:29 pm GMT

    What a waste for eveyone involved.

  • ultimategamer31

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 7:02 pm GMT

    Also, this isnt the first time that the "Soccer Mom Law" has been blamed for violence. Lets go back in time a bit. 1970's Comic Books were the main front. 1980's it was music that corrupted kids and was considered the "devils music." and from the 1990's on it has been video games. when will it all end and parents step up and start reading labels on games? ya know parents, those little things in the corner that that have letters such as e, e10+, t, m, and ao!

  • Valen_Ca

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 6:20 pm GMT

    Correction Mr. Gallagher , it's shameful that some taxpaying voters are so easily convinced that these types of laws are a good thing by 4 simple little words, "It's for the children" .

  • Kfoss

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 4:48 pm GMT

    ouch 1/4 of a million dollars..OUCH..so much for all those programs for disenfranchised children...ya know aside from a crapy E3..go ESA!!! go go go go go...so who next...NY?

  • BlueFlameBat

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 3:54 pm GMT

    I'm not really against a law that prohibits the sale of M-rated video games to minors, but I think States should stop trying to file lawsuits that they can't win, especially when it's costing tax-payers' money.

  • Sagacious_Tien

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 3:34 pm GMT

    Will the legislators look at the facts and stop trying to enforce laws that are inconstitutional?

  • lamprey263

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 3:17 pm GMT

    Way to go ESA!! Hopefully these costly defeats against this kind of state legistlation will deter other states from doing similar things.

  • grigjd3

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 3:09 pm GMT

    It's funny. Think about the sticker. Could you possibly imagine anything that would do more to send demand for these violent video games soaring? I mean, what fifteen year old ISN'T going to want the game with a giant bold black 18 tacked onto the cover. For most kids that age, having something so forbidden is a sign of status.

  • Sparktony

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 2:58 pm GMT

    Hooray for the ESA!!!

  • ultimategamer31

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 2:47 pm GMT

    WTF Arnold! Terminator to Kindergarden Cop? Seriously, cant these half @$$ed backwards "game legislators" have something better to do then stick it to the gamers and tax payers.

  • lowenergycycle

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 2:40 pm GMT

    @VenomRitual

    Why? They defend your right to play videogames.

    Who are you? Jack Thompson?

  • VenomRitual posted Aug 5, 2008 2:10 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    VenomRitual

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 2:10 pm GMT (hide)

    i hate the ESA

  • redskinStu

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 1:45 pm GMT

    I could understand these attempts at censorship if there was science to back it up, but there is NONE.
    There is NO evidence that video games influence behavior negatively.

  • hunter8man

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 1:37 pm GMT

    So now that they have that money, find a way to get it back to the taxpayers and leave the game industry ratings to the ESRB.

  • gnbfd

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 1:28 pm GMT

    "American taxpayers have forked over hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Entertainment Software Association due to lawmakers' failed attempts to legislate the gaming industry."

    I was unaware of this. I don't pay taxes yet, but if I did I would be pissed

  • akiwak

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 1:17 pm GMT

    Don't work against the industry that is currently BOOMING work with it to make sure it continues to grow, where in the end the gov't will just collect more taxes on all sales of games. If they really want to focus on kids then please change the entire Public School system because the one currently in place SUCKS!!!

  • McGregor

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 12:51 pm GMT

    didn't everyone say let the parents teach their children? I guess no one in their gov. listened and it cost them almost 300,000 dollars. I'll bet they could have put that money to some good use too. Oh well, guess the ESA will get to put it to some good use instead.

  • Pika132

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 12:31 pm GMT

    Moral: Cross a multimillion dollar industry and you will personally pay through the nose. Oh, wait.

    Seriously, our budget deficit is bad enough without wasting over a quarter million on stupid moves like this one.

  • Lucidmike78 posted Aug 5, 2008 12:24 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Lucidmike78

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 12:24 pm GMT (hide)

    Yeah, this makes me feel good about the ESA for a change. NOT.

  • matt_kun

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 12:14 pm GMT

    I like how we have to pay for lawmakers stupidity. How is this right?
    Does this mean the people should now sue the government? sure, it would be less than a cent per person, but it's the pricipal that matters, is it not?

  • shanzor

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 12:00 pm GMT

    Michael Gallagher said it right. But it's not just a Californian problem. It's a problem across the United States. Legislators are wasting money on pointless things like video game restriction when they can be using that money for other, more productive, things.

  • bungie93

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:29 am GMT

    Ever notice how its always the liberal states who are passing video game laws?

  • okassar

    Posted Aug 5, 2008 11:09 am GMT

    You would think that Arnold is cool with digital violence...

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