ESA dropped $1.1 million on political campaigns in Q1

The Entertainment Software Association spent $1.1 million lobbying on the games industry's behalf during the first quarter of 2011, financial reports have revealed.

The report comes on the heels of the US Supreme Court's ruling that games are covered by the First Amendment. The ESA was a vocal supporter of the games industry during the six years the decision dragged on.

The ESA, which is funded largely through the membership dues of major publishers, spent an equal amount in the first quarter of 2010, and slightly more during the final quarter of 2010.

In addition to lobbying to overthrow California's anti-violent games law, the ESA dropped funds into campaigning for mandatory wanring labels on adult-rated games with violent content.

Other campaigns aimed to combat piracy, enforce intellectual property, and to extend green cards and visas to skilled workers.

The ESA runs the ESRB, which governs the primary US games rating system, and organises E3, in addition to political and legal activities.