ESA stands behind proposed SOPA legislation, issues statement

by Ben Gilbert on Jan 3rd 2012 3:50PM

Last week, it appeared as though various game developers and publishers had pulled support for the proposed "Stop Online Piracy Act" - a piece of legislation that would empower content owners to effectively shut down internet sites over copyright infringement claims. The Entertainment Software Association, however, was still listed as a supporter, meaning that the long list of game companies belonging to the ESA supported it by proxy. That's pretty much every major game company you can think of, with the exception of Activision.

The ESA is still a SOPA supporter, and today the game industry's lobbying group issued a statement to Joystiq regarding its support of the controversial bill. It reads as follows:

"As an industry of innovators and creators, we understand the importance of both technological innovation and content protection, and do not believe the two are mutually exclusive. Rogue websites – those singularly devoted to profiting from their blatant illegal piracy – restrict demand for legitimate video game products and services, thereby costing jobs. Our industry needs effective remedies to address this specific problem, and we support the House and Senate proposals to achieve this objective. We are mindful of concerns raised about a negative impact on innovation. We look forward to working with the House and Senate, and all interested parties, to find the right balance and define useful remedies to combat willful wrongdoers that do not impede lawful product and business model innovation."

As we've previously stated, Joystiq does not support SOPA, nor does our parent company. Additionally, Serious Sam: Double D dev Mommy's Best Games is currently calling on ESA members to speak out against the proposed bill.

Tags: ea, electronic-arts, electronic-software-association, esa, microsoft, nintendo, sony, sopa

Reader Comments (97)

I guess its time for individual companies to distance themselves from the ESA and SOPA at the same time if they want our dollars.

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

Legislation is a lot easier to pass than it is to repeal, and in that time consumers are more likely to adapt rather than rebel or boycott.

I agree with you, but there's a lot of people out there that need to be informed before this can be resisted effectively.

*cough* ESA supporters list *cough*

http://www.theesa.com/about/members.asp

@Scuffles

lulz just noticed they actually posted the link to the ESA members page in the article about the ESA this time.

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

Sigh is sigh ( Hands on hips)

But good ol Sony doens't supports it .

Why can't all companies care like Sony?

@The angry pro consumer gaming ga

right, they are afraid of "dying for piracy" a fear that has been there for almost 20 years....next thing they are going to be afraid of "dying" if second hand is not stopped, and then they are going to "die" if they don´t charge for every extra life that you need, companies are only looking to squeeze the last dime of our wallets, this isn´t against piracy... it´s against the fact that they can´t force you to pay for pressing the "on" button on your console, and that´s what they want to change.....

@Lalalala

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/01/03/nintendo-sony-and-microsoft-pull-back-on-supporting-sopa.aspx

No matter what happens, piracy will always be an issue. It's a sad reality, but it's just that: Reality. People will always make it their goal to digitally steal all sorts of media, and all SOPA would do is screw over those of us who legitimately get our products and just so happen use the internet. Luckily, not many folks use this "the Internet" of which I speak.... right?

I don't support SOPA, but the actual reality is that it would put a serious dent in online piracy.

Don't be fooled by the righteousness of people shouting for freedom from intellectual property rights.

OnLive and other streaming services are proof of concept that there are workarounds to supplying the data to the consumer while still giving them adequate access to the media.

In time, the piracy problem will inevitably be dealt with in one way or another, and I highly doubt the victory will go to the unproductive side.

@jsx92 Wrong. You can still visit the same websites it will block by directly entering the IP address. Or you can get a browser plug-in that will do it for you. Do you think people who are pirating games are going to be stopped by the 20 seconds it takes to do either of those?

Why should our government resources, that taxpayers fund, be spent on something so stupid when we obviously have much, much bigger problems in our Country?

Besides, most* of the people pirating games probably bought copies of the actual game, but found a pirated version to work much better than the DRM-filled garbage they were sold.

*not really most

@jsx92

There's no such thing as intellectual property rights. Intellectual property isn't property, it's just a metaphor. It's more like a grant.

@jsx92

"the actual reality is that it would put a serious dent in online piracy."

That's a ridiculous joke. SOPA would curtail online piracy the same way that shutting down Napster curtailed MP3 trading, and the War on Drugs curtailed marijuana usage.

Hackers have already demonstrated workarounds for the primitive, dangerous technology that the governments intend to use to do DNS takedowns of "rogue" sites.

As usual, the pirates will be unaffected, and the only victims will be the innocent websites that are wiped off the map by publishing companies' overly broad takedown requests.

We all played Portal 2, not too long ago. Remember what happened when Wheatley, the most idiotic, self-absorbed being in Aperture Science, was given absolute power? That's what happens when you give record companies, software companies, and film companies a ray gun to shoot down any website they don't like.

@jsx92
Why don't do some research and get an education before acting like you have an informed opinion.

Namely, look into Human Nature, Piracy from this century to ARRRGH centuries ago. Look in the mirror and laugh at yourself for being so misinformed then put your chin up and right the wrongs you've stated by taking them back and thereby evolving into a somewhat intellectual being.

@Raffi256
It exists, so just deal with already. A company has the exclusive right to reproduce it's media for X many years.

@Player1
Actually, there's no need no directly type in the website's IP. All you need to do is use an alternative DNS like Google's 8.8.8.8 8.8.4.4 for example.
Or if you really want a fast and free DNS you can set up your own locally with bind9. That way you could even integrate the openNIC DNS.

The real problem here is not with the consumer but rather with people who have their servers in the US. Those can't just avoid censorship that easily (other than moving servers to a different country of course).

@jsx92 - While I agree that it will put a dent in piracy, it won't be a serious one.

It will certainly make it tougher for some people and will probably cut out some of the more casual pirates to whom DNS is a completely foreign term but the majority of people who pirate will have no problems getting around these measures.

@Player1 I agree with you so much. My damn state (Texas) has it's senators and reps (Damn them, how the hell'd they get there...) backing SOPA strongly, and in the meantime Texas internet is barely even worth paying for. I say they should take all the money SOPA supporters have paid them and flip around to shut it down and use the money to improve the internet here. I mean really, what's the point of passing a law to destroy the internet when you barely have it in the first place?

ESA: "Gotta end the internet as you know it in order to maybe get some money out of this group of people who've shown that they are very adept at getting out of paying anyone money!"

Great move, you dolts.

Anyone else find it funny that around this time last year the ESA was fighting tooth and nail to prove that video games qualified for protection under the first amendment, and now they're backing a bill that would basically crush the first amendment?

I guess protecting innovation only matters when your making a profit

You know, it's funny how often these types of company bring out either a past "boogeyman" or a present one to help "trick" the public/congressmen and push their particular interests forward that has either little or nothing to do with said "boogeyman".

Sure, we can agree that piracy may be a bad thing in some instances, but the execution of this strategy to pass this bill and how it touches *other* things that have nothing to do with their stated message is just either decietful or misguided...or both.

@GiantGamer OHKO. You have died, go straight to the afterlife, do pass GO, do hand your $200 to the big corporations on your way out, Kthxbai.

@GiantGamer
Flawless Victory

Fatality!

ugh thats all I got

If this goes through, the Internet we know and lov... tolerate will change forever. And not because we won't be able to 'test' PC games before we buy them, but because big business will have won again and destroyed legitimate ways of life because they don't want the world to be free, they want it locked down and under a paywall.

That Guy with the glasses, for example, could be shut down because the wording of the bill isn't specific enough to guarantee spurious uses of the law can't happen. If something can be abused, it will be abused (law of humanity) and this bill designed to be abused. Like most American laws. Goverment always leaves loopholes so it can do all kinds of shady crap when it wants to, which is all the time.

I agree, there SHOULD be anti-piracy legislation. That's NOT what SOPA is! It's a vaguely worded bill that could result in the worst Internet censorship outside of Communist China, and anybody who tries to paint it as something else is either naive, misinformed or an out-and-out liar.

You want stronger legal protection against piracy, ESA? Lobby for that. Don't throw your support behind vaguely worded garbage that will gut the Internet as we know it. Because if you look at our government's track record with ill-defined power to act against our citizenry's basic rights, they don't look so good...

@TheHyphenator You give me faith that more and more people are actually aware of what our government is really doing, and not just blindly having faith in their capabilities and more importantly; their intentinons!

@TheHyphenator

"It's a vaguely worded bill that could result in the worst Internet censorship outside of Communist China, and anybody who tries to paint it as something else is either naive, misinformed or an out-and-out liar."

Now that's what I call hyperbole!

@Hank Hill
How is this an exaggeration in any way?

@TheHyphenator Thank you for posting that. Everyone I talk to about SOPA responds, "well its those durn pirateers". Followed by a face-palm. SOPA is a blatant First Amendment Crusher. Censorship of the last remaining form of open mass communication.

It won't surprise me if SOPA passes. Obama signed the NDAA, a law allowing the indefinite detention of "terror suspects", but isn't limited to foreign nationals.

"The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States.” The key word here is “requirement.” In other words, the president still has the option to place Americans in indefinite military detention." -allgov.com

I don't nearly see as big of an outrage as I think there should be. With FEMA Prison (Concentration) Camps all over the United States, This is exactly where the "offenders" will be living.

The reality is that no, it would not put a dent in piracy.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the way sopa is intended to work, it does not stop access to a website if I were to manually type in the ip adress to that site.

Well, I'm not paying to redo my ESA subscription this year. It's like they really don't know how the internet works.

I'll admit I'm not superbly knowledgable on the pirating scene, because, well, I don't pirate anything.

But why aren't confirmed piracy sources reported to authorities, and they just take it down because it's a violation of the law?

This so-called solution is way too broad and affects so many corners of the online world...it's just gross, guys. It really is.

So, the ESA thinks a law will stop pirates from pirating? Someone hasn't been paying attention to the last 10 years of internet.

Also, SOPA goes way beyond piracy protection, they failed to address that part.

I think the US should just rename itself the People's Republic of China.

@vaajtswv May as well, China owns the US thanks to the billions and billions of dollars owed them.

@JonahFalcon

Actually, the US owes most of the debt not to China... but to it's own citizens. The amount of money owed to China has been exaggerated for years by those corporate owned "news" networks. Wonder why?

Wow, suddenly I have a reason to hate the ESA. Ignorant twats.

ESA = hypocrites.

They whine about the 2005 California videogame law impinging on THEIR First Amendment Rights, but want to crush other people's First Amendment Rights?

@JonahFalcon

Well, all of the members of the ESA are moneygrubbing bastards, so in the name of a dollar they'd kill a man if they had to.

Just look at THQ; they release 10 dollar DLC for their games every 2 weeks, and it's usually recycled content.

@Copybass I don't care about DLC prices. Things are worth what people are willing to pay for them.

@JonahFalcon
where in the first amendment is the right to piracy?

@mrantimatter

You sir, are a complete and utter idiot, to the highest degree.

@JonahFalcon

He still made a good point.

Besides most people simply complain about the overpriced amount of DLC or games in general yet still purchase them, companies know this.

Les than a year ago the same group was calling on Gamers and the Gaming Media to rally support against California's attempt to make the sell of violent video games illegal. A bill that threatened constitutional rights and was poorly written. Now that group is supporting the exact same thing. I guess Rights only apply to those with money. They only support such Rights when it's in their best interest. Good to know.

Stay Classy ESA.

The Media needs to make a list of all the Publishers/Developers who are supporting SOPA. The Gaming Community then needs to show their displeasure with their wallets.

@HaVoK308

"The Gaming Community then needs to show their displeasure with their wallets."

Agreed. But it won't happen. The most people tend to do is complain like all of us are doing.

Isn't this the kind of stuff done in Iran and China and other dictatorships?

Isn't SOPA just....un-American?

To battle this, it needs to be handled much like the NRA handles infringements on the 2nd amendment. You contact your states politician, politely let them know that if this were to pass, there would be votes going towards their competitor in the upcoming election.

You guys have far more power than you think you do. How long til this law crosses over from piracy sites, to any site the Gov deems we shouldn't have access to, specific news sites, hell joystiq says something wrong, bam their on the list.

This simply can't be allowed to pass, because once it does, it won't stop at piracy. Tell your friends, co-workers, classmates, anybody you come in contact with how dangerous a bill that is currently being backed much several huge corporations can be.

Because, if it gets passed, not only will it open some very bad doors, but repealing it will be nye on impossible.

@Sniper Specops
No joke!

Tell yur kids! Tell yur wyfe! Tell ur husband!

'cause they taking away yur rights!

Looks like anonymous has a lot of game studios to hack, because if they hack just one, Sony for example then they're a bunch of hypocrites.

@BrianZeluz
How about they don't hack anyone at all, lose the butthurt, and just send letters to thier congressmen like the rest of us?

@pluupy I was being facetious. I completely agree with you, the legal way is best.

On a side note after reading the other comments I'm very glad that I don't live in the US. The modern form of democracy is to blame, give to the rich and take from the needy.

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ESA stands behind proposed SOPA legislation, issues statement

Reader Comments (97)

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 3:53PM The angry pro consumer gaming ga said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:00PM Parlormaster said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:17PM Scuffles said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:23PM Scuffles said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:28PM Lalalala said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 6:24PM Hunter141072 said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 2:29PM SpudimusPrime89 said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 3:56PM Schlecht said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:05PM jsx92 said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:13PM Player1 said

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Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 6:17PM sparkster said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 10:39PM Mcmax3000 said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 2:00AM Jetleo1 said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 3:57PM Daveboy said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 3:57PM xHotPotatox said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:01PM Space Cobra said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 2:05AM Jetleo1 said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 1:33PM Vic Fontaine said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:03PM Dick Socrates said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:05PM TheHyphenator said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:42PM SkizzNutt509 said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:23PM Hank Hill said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 2:35AM s256 said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 10:07AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:17PM Sho Minamimoto said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:06PM PSOCecil said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:15PM Shadowbender said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:18PM Lerkero said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:19PM vaajtswv said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:24PM JonahFalcon said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 10:46PM toff said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:20PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:25PM JonahFalcon said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:32PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:33PM JonahFalcon said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:33PM mrantimatter said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 6:04PM Copybass Ah jeez zombies said

Posted: Jan 4th 2012 10:50PM toff said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:33PM HaVoK308 said

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Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:36PM CaptainProtonX said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 4:37PM Sniper Specops said

Posted: Jan 3rd 2012 5:09PM pluupy said

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