The State of Louisiana will be paying the games industry $91,000 to reimburse legal fees incurred from fighting an unconstitutional game law, as a Louisiana judge offers damning words for the State’s actions. 

It would seem that the recent history of games legislation would encourage lawmakers to try different approaches to game regulation, but some aren't getting the hint even yet.

The Entertainment Software Association, whose members include the game industry’s biggest companies, said that the Louisiana ruling means that over $1.71 million has now been awarded to the industry related to reimbursement from fighting unconstitutional game laws.

“This Court is dumbfounded that the Attorney General and the State are in the position of having to pay taxpayer money as attorney’s fees and costs in this lawsuit,” wrote Judge James J. Brady of the Middle District of Louisiana in his ruling. “The Court wonders why nobody objected to the enactment of this statute. In this court’s view, the taxpayers deserve more from their elected officials.”

The unconstitutional Louisiana law would have fined vendors between $100 and $2,000 and threatened up to one year in jail for selling games with “violent” content to minors.

The ESA said that this is the ninth ruling in seven years that has denied such game laws that restrict the sale of games to minors.

ESA senior VP and general counsel Gail Markels said that the organization wants to work with lawmakers to educate parents about violent games and their ratings, but added in a statement, “It’s unfortunate the some officials continue to believe that unconstitutional laws are the answer.”