Editing Entertainment Software Association

{{distinguish|Entertainment Software Rating Board|European Space Agency}}
{{short description|United States trade association of the video game industry}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Entertainment Software Association
| formation                = {{Start date and age|1994|4}}
| logo                     = Entertainment Software Association logo.svg
| logo_caption             = Logo
| type                     = [[Trade association]]
| status                   = [[501(c)(5) organization]]
| headquarters             = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| location_country         = United States
| former_name              = Interactive Digital Software Association (1994–2003)
| leader_title             = [[President (corporate title)|President]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]]
| leader_name              = Stanley Pierre-Louis
| website                  = {{URL|https://www.theesa.com/}}
}}
The '''Entertainment Software Association''' ('''ESA''') is the [[trade association]] of the [[video game industry]] in the [[United States]]. It was formed in April 1994 as the '''Interactive Digital Software Association''' ('''IDSA''')<ref name=NGen33>{{cite magazine |title=Our Man in Washington |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=33 |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=September 1997|pages=12–17 |url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_33/page/n13}}</ref> and renamed on July 21, 2003. It is based in [[Washington, D.C.]]<ref>[http://guidestar.com/organizations/13-3768378/entertainment-software-association.aspx Nonprofit Report for ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE ASSOCIATION] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130629100919/http://guidestar.com/organizations/13-3768378/entertainment-software-association.aspx |date=2013-06-29 }}. Guidestar.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.</ref><ref>[https://www.theesa.com/contact/ The Entertainment Software Association - Contact Us]. Theesa.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.</ref> Most of the top [[Video game publisher|publishers]] in the gaming world (or their [[United States|America]]n subsidiaries) are members of the ESA.

The ESA also organized the annual [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] (E3) [[Trade fair|trade expo]] in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]]. The ESA's policy is based by member companies serving on the ESA's three Working Groups:<ref>[https://www.theesa.com/become-a-member/ The Entertainment Software Association - Become an ESA Member] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130624184429/http://www.theesa.com/become-a-member/|date=2013-06-24}}. Theesa.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-23.</ref> "Intellectual Property Working Group", "Public Policy Committee" and "Public Relations Working Group".

==History==
The concept of the IDSA/ESA arose from the [[Controversies surrounding Mortal Kombat|controversies]] that the violence depicted in the video game ''[[Mortal Kombat]]'' drew. This led to a [[United States Congress]] hearing in late 1993, where the video game industry was put under scrutiny for the level of violence in games like ''Mortal Kombat'' and ''[[Night Trap]]''. During these hearings, [[Sega]] and [[Nintendo]] blamed the other for the situation, citing differences in how they would rate the content of games for players. Following the hearings, Congressman [[Joe Lieberman]] proposed the Video Game Ratings Act of 1994, which would have set a government-overseen commission to establish a ratings system for video games, and threatened to push it through legislation if the video game industry did not voluntarily come up with one of its own. Recognizing the threat of government oversight, the companies decided to establish the IDSA to be a unified front and represent all video game companies at this level, and subsequently developed the [[Entertainment Software Ratings Board]] (ESRB) to create a voluntary but standardized rating approach to video games. At first, Sega proposed to IDSA that they wanted to use the [[Videogame Rating Council]] ratings, but Nintendo turned down the proposal, fearing it was out of place.<ref name="Wired-kohler-chris-2009-07-29">{{cite magazine |last=Kohler |first=Chris |date=July 29, 2009 |title=July 29, 1994: Videogame Makers Propose Ratings Board to Congress |url=https://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/07/dayintech_0729/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast Publications]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218213902/http://www.wired.com/thisdayintech/2009/07/dayintech_0729/ |archive-date=February 18, 2014 |access-date=June 1, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In July 1994, IDSA representatives returned to Congress to present the ESRB, which Congress accepted and became the standard for the American industry.<ref name="engadget e3">{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/2013/06/06/sony-microsoft-nintendo-and-the-evolution-of-the-electronic-entertainment-expo/ | title = Then there were three: Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo and the evolution of the Electronic Entertainment Expo | first = Sean  |last = Buckley | date = June 6, 2013 | access-date = May 9, 2017 | work = [[Engadget]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://www.wired.com/2009/07/dayintech_0729/ | title = July 29, 1994: Videogame Makers Propose Ratings Board to Congress | first = Chris | last = Kohler | date = July 29, 2009 | access-date = May 9, 2017 | magazine = [[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] }}</ref>

The IDSA formally renamed itself to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) on July 21, 2003. The renaming was made to reflect that the associated companies were primarily in the realm of creating entertainment software across ranges of devices, and the new name was selected to more clearly define the industry.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/idsa-renamed-esa/1100-6071998/ | title = IDSA renamed ESA | first=  Justin | last = Calvert | date = July 21, 2003 | access-date = May 16, 2017 | work = [[GameSpot]] }}</ref> [[Doug Lowenstein]] founded the ESA.<ref>[http://psp.ign.com/articles/724/724921p1.html Illinois Ordered to Pay ESA Half Million] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821011849/http://psp.ign.com/articles/724/724921p1.html |date=2006-08-21 }} by Daemon Hatfield, IGN Entertainment, 2006-08-10</ref> On December 14, 2006, game blog [[Kotaku]] reported<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070107080004/http://swansonator.kotaku.com/gaming/top/rumor-esa-president-is-quitting-222041.php Rumor:ESA President is Quitting](archived) by [[Brian Crecente]], ''[[Kotaku]]'', 2006-12-14</ref> that he was resigning to take a job in finance outside the industry. On May 17, 2007, [[Michael Gallagher (political advisor)|Mike Gallagher]] replaced Doug Lowenstein as the president of the ESA.<ref>[https://www.gamespot.com/news/6171036.html ESA selects new president] by Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot, 2007-05-17</ref>

In 2019, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' reported that Gallagher had lost the confidence of the board of directors over a number of related issues in the preceding years. His office was characterized as a [[toxic work environment]] in which he pitted his subordinates against each other and sent them belittling messages. He also fired an experienced high-level employee in favor of a new employee [[Cronyism|he preferred]]. With the 2016 election of [[Donald Trump]], Gallagher attempted to publicly align the ESA with Trump's policies, such as the [[Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017]], which was unpopular with members of the association. [[Robert A. Altman]] and [[Phil Spencer (business executive)|Phil Spencer]], then the chair and vice-chair of the board, respectively, spearheaded an internal investigation into Gallagher's conduct.<ref name="variety">{{Cite web |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=2019-05-10 |title=Inside the Disarray Facing the Video Game Organization Behind E3 |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/entertainment-software-association-mike-gallagher-e3-1203211280/ |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Variety}}</ref> Gallagher announced on October 3, 2018, that he would be stepping down as president; then ESA senior vice-president Stanley Pierre-Louis served as interim president during ESA's search for a permanent replacement.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/3/17934258/esa-michael-gallagher-resigns-e3-lobbying-group | title = Head of E3 operator and lobbying group, The ESA, steps down | first=  Michael | last= McWhertor | date = October 3, 2018 | access-date = October 3, 2018 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }}</ref> In the end, ESA opted to elect Pierre-Louis as the permanent president and CEO in May 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/stanley-pierre-louis-named-ceo-and-president-of-the-esa | title =  Stanley Pierre-Louis named CEO and president of the ESA | first=  Alissa | last = McAloon | date = May 13, 2019 | access-date = May 13, 2019 | work = [[Gamasutra]] }}</ref>

==Activities==
In addition to overseeing the ESRB, the ESA organized the [[Electronic Entertainment Expo]] (E3). After the IDSA's formation, the video game industry became concerned over the treatment they had received at recent [[Consumer Electronic Show]]s and were seeking another trade show venue. The IDSA partnered with [[International Data Group]] (IDG) to organize the [[E3 1995|first E3]], held in May 1995 in Los Angeles. The first E3 proved more successful than originally expected, and the IDSA negotiated with the IDG to take ownership of E3 and its intellectual property, with the IDG serving to help handle execution of the event.<ref name="engadget e3"/> In a 1997 interview, IDSA president Doug Lowenstein said E3 is also the primary source of income for the IDSA.<ref name=NGen33/> In 2016, revenues from running E3 accounted for about 48% of the organization's annual budget, with another 37% coming from membership dues.<ref name="variety"/> Some member companies criticized the ESA for its split focus between producing E3 and acting as a legislative advocacy group, with neither focus receiving adequate attention. Following the high profile withdrawals of companies like [[Sony]] and [[Electronic Arts]] from attending E3, the direction of E3 was called into question, with some members advocating for the business of running E3 to be split out into a separate company.<ref name="variety"/> The ESA ultimately discontinued E3 in December 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Park |first=Gene |date=December 12, 2023 |title=E3, once gaming's biggest expo, is officially dead |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/video-games/2023/12/12/e3-permanently-canceled/ |access-date=December 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/12/e3-officially-dead-after-more-than-two-decades|title=E3 officially dead after more than two decades|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 12, 2023|archive-date=December 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212145401/https://www.gematsu.com/2023/12/e3-officially-dead-after-more-than-two-decades|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ESA leads in confronting legislation that would be harmful to the video game industry, particularly related to video game rating controversies under the ESRB, and encouraging legislation that would be beneficial to the industry. Of note, the ESA was one plaintiff in ''[[Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association]]'', a [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] case that judged that video games were protected works under the [[First Amendment to the United States Constitution|First Amendment]] in 2012,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/08-1448.pdf |title=Schwarzenegger v. EMA|year=2011|access-date=2011-06-27|publisher=supremecourt.gov |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629023005/http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/10pdf/08-1448.pdf|archive-date=2011-06-29}}</ref> and helped get entertainment software included in the [[Information Technology Agreement]] of 1996.<ref name=NGen33/>

The ESA also engages in [[Lobbying in the United States|government lobbying at the state and federal level]].<ref name=NGen33/> According to a [[Bloomberg News|Bloomberg]] report, the ESA spent approximately $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2011 on lobbying efforts in Washington D.C.<ref>[http://gamepolitics.com/2011/06/28/esa-spent-11-million-q1-lobbying#.Ubc5zNiISOc GamePolitics] ESA Spent $1.1 Million in Q1 for Lobbying</ref><ref>[http://www.tgdaily.com/business-and-law-features/59939-esa-spent-11m-on-lobbying-fees TGDaily] ESA spent $1.1M on lobbying fees</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090130114837/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=21998 Gamasutra] ESA Spent Record $4.2 Million Lobbying In 2008</ref> The ESA has initially been a proponent of the proposed anti-piracy [[SOPA]] and [[PROTECT IP Act|PIPA]] legislation, [[Red 5 Studios]] CEO [[Mark Kern]] founded the ''League For Gamers'' (LFG), a rival trade organization, in response.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lenhardt |first=Heinrich |title=SOPA Controversy Creates Rival to Game Industry Group ESA; LFG Aims to Be 'the NRA for Gamers' |url=http://microvcclub.com/sopa-controversy-creates-rival-to-game-industry-group-esa-lfg-aims-to-be-the-nra-for-gamers |website=[[VentureBeat]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008220217/http://venturebeat.com/2012/01/17/sopa-controversy-creates-rival-to-game-industry-group-esa-lfg-aims-to-be-the-nra-for-gamers/ |archive-date=October 8, 2016 |date=January 17, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> In January 2012, the ESA dropped its support for both SOPA and PIPA, while calling on Congress to craft a more balanced copyright approach.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/news/a361349/entertainment-software-association-withdraws-sopa-pipa-support.html |title=Entertainment Software Association withdraws SOPA, PIPA support |website=[[Digital Spy]] |date=2012-01-20}}</ref>

Gregory Boyd, chairman of the Interactive Entertainment Group at the New York law firm stated, “When it comes to lobbying, the "main industry group" that individual companies defer to is the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which spent $4.83 million on its own in 2012 — more than [[Facebook]], [[Google]], or even the [[National Rifle Association]] (NRA)."<ref>LeJacq, Yannick. "[http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/call-duty-maker-gears-against-violent-video-games-bill-8C11124802 'Call of Duty' maker gears up against 'violent video games' bill]." NBC news. 2013-09-11</ref>

The ESA also works to combat and reduce [[copyright infringement]] of video game-related works for the companies it represents. This is typically done through sending takedown or [[cease and desist]] notices to sites hosting infringing work, and working with search engines like [[Google]] to delist sites that host infringing files. They also work with law enforcement agencies to train agents how to handle copyright infringement.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/esa-nails-5-million-for-copyright-infringement/ | title = ESA Nails 5 Million for Copyright Infringement | first = Michael | last= Rougeau | date = May 29, 2013 | access-date = May 16, 2017 | work = [[Digital Trends]] }}</ref>

ESA has spoken in favor of the [[loot box]] mechanics, arguing that it does not constitute gambling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/u-s-senator-introduces-bill-to-ban-loot-boxes-and-pay-1834612226|title=U.S. Senator Introduces Bill To Ban Loot Boxes And Pay-To-Win Microtransactions|last=Schreier|first=Jason|website=Kotaku|date=8 May 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-10}}</ref>

The ESA launched their Accessible Games Initiative in March 2025 in partnership with EA, Google, Microsoft, Nintendo of America, and Ubisoft, addressing [[video game accessibility]]. The Initiative developed 24 tags with the intention for these to be included on software box covers or included on digital storefronts to describe games' features towards accessibility, such as narrated menus or joystick inversion options.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/esa-launches-accessible-games-initiative-and-unveils-24-tags-for-gaming-storefronts-and-product-pages| title = ESA launches Accessible Games Initiative and unveils 24 "tags" for gaming storefronts and product pages | first = Vikki | last = Blake | date = March 23, 2025 | accessdate = March 23, 2025 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }}</ref>

== Criticism and controversies ==
The association's support for [[Stop Online Piracy Act|SOPA]]/[[PROTECT IP Act|PIPA]] was [[Protests against SOPA and PIPA|protested]] by League of Gamers and boycotting the E3 convention.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-06 |title=Stand Together: The Gaming Community vs SOPA and PIPA {{!}} ScrewAttack.com |url=http://www.screwattack.com/standtogether |access-date=2025-01-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306001915/http://www.screwattack.com/standtogether |archive-date=6 March 2016 }}</ref>

On August 3, 2019, it had been found that an unsecured list of personal attendee data was publicly accessible from the ESA's site. The list contained the information of over 2000 people, most of them being the press and [[social media influencers]] that had attended [[E3 2019]]. ESA removed the list after its public visible was found, and apologized for allowing the information to become public.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dring|first=Christopher|date=August 3, 2019|title=E3 accidentally leaks personal details of journalists, YouTubers and analysts|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-08-03-e3-accidentally-leaks-personal-details-of-journalists-youtubers-and-analysts|access-date=August 5, 2019|work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]}}</ref> However, using similar techniques to access the 2019 data, users found similar data for over 6000 attendees of past E3 events that were still available on user-authenticated portions of their website; these too were subsequently pulled by ESA once notified.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gera|first=Emily|date=August 5, 2019|title=E3 organisers previously leaked over 6000 more names|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/08/06/e3-organisers-previously-leaked-over-6000-more-names/|access-date=August 5, 2019|work=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.theesa.com}}

{{Portal bar|1990s|United States|Video games}}
{{Electronic Entertainment Expo}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Entertainment Software Association| ]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations]]
[[Category:Communications and media organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1994]]
[[Category:Trade associations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Lobbying organizations based in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Video game trade associations]]
[[Category:Entertainment companies of the United States]]