The Entertainment Software Association, whose members include Microsoft, Electronic Arts and Atari, among others, spent more than 714,000 dollars in the first quarter to lobby the federal government, the Associated Press reports. The trade group, which represents video and computer game makers, is a strong proponent of industry self-regulation. The ESA lobbied on First Amendment issues, measures to promote parental control technology and on proposals intended to keep violent video games away from children. In addition, the group lobbied on measures to protect intellectual property, crack down on piracy, and on patent reform and trade issues, according to a disclosure report filed April 21 with the House clerk’s office. Besides Congress, the group lobbied the Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Copyright Office, Commerce Department, U.S. Trade Representative, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Communications Commission and other agencies in the first three months of the year.

Source: Associated Press