Private DIY Servers Are "Illegal Black Markets of Piracy" | The ESA's Shady Ties
Gamers Nexus
Jul 4, 2026
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is actively lobbying against consumer-friendly legislation by mischaracterizing private game servers as illegal piracy. By funneling millions into government influence, the trade group protects publisher revenue models while simultaneously advocating for generative AI, revealing a profound conflict of interest regarding intellectual property rights.
Key insight: The ESA cited its own self-submitted comments from a 2018 USTR report as 'evidence' to convince California legislators that private servers are notorious markets, effectively laundering their own lobbying points into official government testimony.
