ESA spent $1.2m on lobbying in Q409

A report filed by the House of Representatives’ clerk’s office in the US shows that trade body The Entertainment Software Association spent a whopping $1,208,000 on lobbying in Q4 2009.

Spong reports that the number is up on 2008’s total lobbying spend of $980k.

The ESA engaged officials on a range of topics including age ratings, piracy, IP protection, parental control tech, broadband rollout and the employment of overseas developers.

It seems that the spend pays off, too, with the ESA earlier this year announcing its delight at the Department of Justice’s decision to form an Intellectual Property Task Force – a move it had campaigned for.