Publishers Association Changes Name

The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), which represents U.S. computer and video game software publishers, announced that it has formally changed its name to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

According to ESA president Douglas Lowens, the name change is intended to more directly reflect the association’s members – those companies that create and publish interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. The new name will be used effective immediately.

ESA members collectively account for more than 90 percent of the $6.9 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2002, and billions more in export sales of American-made entertainment software. The ESA owns the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and its member services include a global anti-piracy program, business and consumer research, government relations and First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. The association web site, formerly www.idsa.com, can now be found at www.theESA.com.