ESA Weighs in on Possible Xbox 360 Ban
Remember when International Trade Commission Judge David Shaw recommended that all US imports and sales of Xbox 360s be blocked? Well, the Entertainment Software Association (better known as the ESA) has finally weighed in on the issue, releasing a public statement urging against the proposed ban.
“Our membership includes most of the major US game publishers and the major video game console makers,” the statement read. “An exclusion order banning the importation of Xbox gaming consoles into the US would harm not only Microsoft, but a variety of other parties across the gaming ecosystem, including most importantly consumers and game publishers.”
“The video game industry is a significant contributor to the US economy and job growth, and reaches American consumers of all walks of life,” the statement went on to explain. “According to a 2011 NPD
industry sales report, nearly three-quarters of all American households play games, and consumers spent nearly $25bn on video games, hardware, and accessories in 2011.”
The issue surrounding the ban stems from a patent dispute between Microsoft and Motorola. The two companies have been battling it out across the globe over patents involving Wi-Fi connectivity and video compression, resulting in a German sales ban of key Microsoft products, including the Xbox 360.
If the ITC Commissioners agree with Judge Shaw’s recommendation, it will be President Barack Obama who has the final say regarding the ban. It looks like Microsoft will have to hope that our Commander in Chief isn’t a Sony fanboy.
This sets up more companies WITH BIG MONEY to steal from the rest of the world. If Microsoft gets away with this, it will ruin International TRADE! Mega corporations paying off politicians in DC will be able to steal ANY technology. This represents a MAJOR illegal step in digital/patent theft. MSFT stole the technology and will STEAL MORE all they have to do it pay money to politicians. USA is a corrupt industry with corporations ruining the world. This will damage others countries rights and technologies will be stolen and blackmarketed as theirs in the USA. The International community should OUTLAW products manufactured in the USA. Other companies will do the same, and it will be common place only for the large corporations with the money to pay off the politicians.
They should be banned, they stole another technology, no matter ho you look at it, MSFT should pay the royalties, which it is refusing, SO they SHOULD be blocked from shipping this stolen technology. All they have to do is pay up like everybody else.
Yet, they would rather pay politicians during an election year, to have them lobby. When in fact politicians how NO say in the matter. Their opinion does NOT matter, cause they no nothing what an xbox is, just what the greenback looks like.
Dirty typical politics, using MONEY to pay politicians to get your way when you have done wrong. Our country resembles this everyday, so I expect nothing less.
MSFT stole the technology, period.
BOYCOTT MICROSOFT for CRIMES AGAINST SOFTWARE HUMANITY