14 DAY TRIAL // The Entertainment Software Association, the organization which represents many of the biggest players in the video game industry, has issued an official statement in support of the Stop Online Piracy Act, a bill which sits before Congress and would open up new avenues of attack against those who host copyright infringement material.
The official statement from the Entertainment Software Association says, “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.”
The ESA also says that, as an organization, it understands the concerns that some users have about the provisions of the SOPA.
It adds, “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.”
Recently Nintendo, Sony and Electronic Arts have announced that they are withdrawing their support for SOPA, according to information from the Senate judiciary committee, although the three companies have not cited their reasons.
The three remain part of the ESA and that means that, indirectly, they are still supporting the bill.
The three companies might have withdrawn their direct support because of the backlash the supports of SOPA can expect from the public, especially when they are doing business in a field such as video games, which could be widely affected by the provisions of the bill.
A number of technology oriented companies have been lobbying in support of SOPA while other tech giants would like to see the law watered down a little.
The bill should be passed or rejected before the autumn Presidential elections in the United States.