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Currently the Washington legislature is proposing HB 2075, a bill which would impose a tax on digitally downloaded products. The bill would harm Washington consumers - including you - by raising prices at exactly the time that many of us are feeling the fiscal crisis. One result will be to suppress consumption, which will cause layoffs at effected businesses, like the Washington video game industry, which employs many Washington consumers.

We all need to act now!

Simply read the letter below, fill in the form to the right, then click the Send This Message button and your letter will be emailed to your Washington state representative.

November 20, 2009

Subject:

As your constituent, I urge you not to support HB 2075, which would impose taxes on digitally distributed products. This bill will have a disproportionate impact on video game players (“gamers”) like me and have a negative impact on Washington companies.

A tax on digital distribution would harm Washington consumers, many of whom are also employed by the state’s video game industry.  Digital distribution is playing an increasingly important role in the industry’s growth by providing gamers smaller, more affordable ways to continue our hobby. Gamers are purchasing downloadable content for games we already own in order to extend our enjoyment of the original purchase. However, by adding a tax to that downloadable content, I will no longer see the same benefit from the digital purchase and will thus be less likely to make that purchase.

As consumers, we’re told we must continue to spend in order to help the economy in these uncertain and stressful financial times.  We have responded to the call to spend by continuing to support our hobby in record numbers, giving Washington video game companies much needed resources to employ Washington residents like me.

But the tax proposed in HB 2075 sends the exact opposite message. It will raise the prices of online play, as well as the price tag to upgrade offline play.  The increased cost of legitimate purchases that HB 2075 would create also has the insidious side effect of driving consumers to methods of illegal acquisition, or “piracy”, none of us wants to encourage.

Please, allow us to continue to help, and do not support HB 2075.  I understand that the current financial crisis is impacting everyone, including our state; however, this tax would greatly hinder consumers from continuing our efforts to help keep the economy growing through our video game playing hobby.  If you have any questions on this or other similar issues please contact Jennifer Mercurio, the Entertainment Consumers Association’s Director of Government Affairs, at jenn@theeca.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

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