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Uncategorized Wednesday, January 4th 2012 at 11:05 am

The ESA Still Throwing Its Support Behind SOPA, Bringing Nintendo, Sony, EA Along With It

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The Entertainment Software Association announced yesterday that its support of anti-piracy legislation in general and the Stop Online Piracy Act in particular is unwavering, despite the dissenting opinions of many of its members. Many of the companies in the ESA like Nintendo, Sony and Electronic Arts have fought to be removed from lists of SOPA supporters as a reaction to the horrible consequences the bill could have if passed and the significant PR problems they’d face as supporters, but if the ESA still supports SOPA, it’s pretty much all for naught. No matter what they say, they’ll be supporting SOPA, at least tacitly, unless they leave the ESA or get it to change its tune.

Here’s an excerpt from the ESA’s statement reaffirming their position on SOPA:

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.

And here’s a list of members of the ESA, heavy hitters bolded for your convenience.

  • 38 Studios
  • 345 Games
  • 505 Games
  • Capcom USA, Inc.
  • Deep Silver
  • Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.
  • Eidos Interactive
  • Electronic Arts
  • Epic Games, Inc.
  • Her Interactive, Inc.
  • Ignition Entertainment
  • Konami Digital Entertainment
  • LEVEL-5 Inc.
  • Microsoft Corporation
  • Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
  • Natsume Inc.
  • Nexon America, Inc.
  • Nintendo of America Inc.
  • Nival
  • NVIDIA
  • O-Games, Inc.
  • Perfect World Entertainment
  • SEGA of America, Inc.
  • Slang
  • Sony Computer Entertainment America
  • Sony Online Entertainment, Inc.
  • Square Enix, Inc.
  • Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
  • Tecmo Koei America Corporation
  • THQ, Inc.
  • Trion Worlds, Inc.
  • Ubisoft Entertainment, Inc.
  • Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.
  • XSEED Games

(via Forbes, Entertainment Software Association)

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  • Anonymous

    There are a few big names that are part of this ESA but they are far from representing the entire game industry. Their members can be avoided easily enough. I will miss NVIDIA though.

    What these toymakers and their media buddies need to realize is that their product is not essential but what they are threatening is.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PM5W4NYPWETX57EJU6HFO7327U Chime Changa

    I loved how both Liberal and Conservative America rose up in protest to this bill. It proves what people can do who aren’t just being manipulated into pawns of power and politics like those of the Occupy Movement.

    I give Liberal media and politicians 2 years, if they focus on it, before they’ve manipulated enough Liberals to support a bill just like SOPA. I say 2 years because I’ve seen Liberal America completely change their opinion, en-masse, within months due to manipulation by leftist media and Democrats.