The [URL=http://www.theesa.com/]Entertainment Software Association (ESA)[/URL] spent $4.604 million on its lobbying efforts in 2009, a significant jump over 2008’s total of $3.654 million.

The group spent $1.208 million in the second, third and fourth quarters of 2009 and $980,000 in last year’s first quarter. 2008 saw $980,000 spent in quarters two, three and four, and $714,364.50 in its first quarter.

Taking a look at a report ([URL=http://disclosures.house.gov/ld/pdfform.aspx?id=300124764]PDF[/URL]) on the ESA’s fourth quarter expenditures for 2009 shows lobbying funds spent on issues such as the Constitution (First Amendment Protection, Ratings, Video Game Sale Regulation), Copyright/Patent/Trademark (Anti-Piracy, IP Enforcement), Trade (Free Trade Agreements, Special 301 Designated Countries, Trade Policy Reform), Computer Industry (Internet Governance, Virtual Worlds), Immigration (High-Skilled Workers, H1-B Visas and Green Cards) and Telecommunications (ISP Management, Copyright Enforcement, Broadband Deployment).
[URL=http://www.gamepolitics.com/2010/03/24/esa-lobbying-funds-rise-nearly-1m-2008-2009]read more[/URL]

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