Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will require videogame publishers to disclose the odds of users receiving certain in-game items from loot box purchases starting in 2020, said Entertainment Software Association Chief Counsel-Tech Policy Michael Warnecke Wednesday at the FTC’s loot box workshop. Loot boxes are containers of randomized items with varying levels of in-game value that users can buy online. The micro-transactions are a revenue stream for industry but also raise questions about predatory practices that lead to behavior similar to addictive gambling, said FTC Consumer Protection Bureau Chief Andrew Smith. He cited reports of consumers spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in pursuit of coveted loot box items. Consumer groups and lawmakers accused the industry of manipulating children and others into spending exorbitant amounts of money on loot boxes. Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.; Ed Markey, D-Mass.; and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., introduced legislation in May that would ban loot box practices (see 1905240066). The rates companies disclose will be the “current odds” for that particular loot box at that particular time, Warnecke said. “The commitment will apply to whatever the particular loot box is. Regardless of the method to reach those odds, those odds would be disclosed,” he said. ESA’s announcement is important and shows the industry is paying attention to its users and acting quickly, said National Consumers League Vice President-Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud John Breyault. But the FTC needs to continue monitoring to make sure there’s no exploitation, he said.

Broadcaster disputes with AT&T and Dish will likely wrap up by September, political advertising will be bigger than ever before in 2020, and chipmaker partner Saankhya made its first sale of ATSC 3.0 chips, said Sinclair Broadcast executives on the company’s Q2 earnings call Wednesday. Sinclair’s total revenue for Q2 was $771 million, versus $730 million the prior year, it said in a news release.

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will require videogame publishers to disclose the odds of users receiving certain in-game items from loot box purchases starting in 2020, Entertainment Software Association Chief Counsel-Tech Policy Michael Warnecke said Wednesday at the FTC’s loot box workshop. Industry has trended toward offering more disclosure of loot box practices after heightened scrutiny from Capitol Hill.

Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will require videogame publishers to disclose the odds of users receiving certain in-game items from loot box purchases starting in 2020, Entertainment Software Association Chief Counsel-Tech Policy Michael Warnecke said Wednesday at the FTC’s loot box workshop. Industry has trended toward offering more disclosure of loot box practices after heightened scrutiny from Capitol Hill.

The idea of a 120-day process for modifying an existing local franchise authority agreement gets a softer sell in the LFA final order approved 3-2 last week (see 1907010011) than in the draft released in July, according to our analysis. The draft had the agency preferring a proposal whereby a cable operator can request a modification and the LFA would have 120 days to make a final decision, but the final order released Friday says that procedure would have violated Section 625 of the Cable Act, and instead encourages the two sides to negotiate modifications "within a reasonable time" and that 120 days "in most cases" should fit that bill.

Questions abound about President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to put 10 percent List 4 Section 301 tariffs into effect on Chinese imports Sept. 1. Since Trump can’t legally impose List 4 by tweets, all eyes will await the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative notice soon to be published in the Federal Register detailing which product categories, if any, are spared from the final duties.

Questions abound about President Donald Trump’s decision Thursday to put 10 percent List 4 Section 301 tariffs into effect on Chinese imports Sept. 1. Since Trump can’t legally impose List 4 by tweets, all eyes will await the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative notice soon to be published in the Federal Register detailing which product categories, if any, are spared from the final duties.

The FCC approved updated anti-spoofing rules 5-0 Thursday but stopped short of excluding short codes from the rules, a late change sought by CTIA (see 1907290054). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel raised concerns that the agency isn’t doing enough to fight robocalls. Other commissioners supported the item without quibbles. The order implements part of Ray Baum's Act. “The new rules will allow the agency to bring enforcement actions against bad actors who spoof text messages and those who seek out victims in this country from overseas,” said an FCC news release. The rules also now cover texting.

The FCC approved updated anti-spoofing rules 5-0 Thursday but stopped short of excluding short codes from the rules, a late change sought by CTIA (see 1907290054). Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel raised concerns that the agency isn’t doing enough to fight robocalls. Other commissioners supported the item without quibbles. The order implements part of Ray Baum's Act. “The new rules will allow the agency to bring enforcement actions against bad actors who spoof text messages and those who seek out victims in this country from overseas,” said an FCC news release. The rules also now cover texting.

Both an FCC commissioner and critics of the agency's approval Thursday of a local franchise authority (LFA) order anticipate its being challenged in court. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks, who along with Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel dissented in the 3-2 vote, said he has "no doubt" about litigation. Emailed NATOA General Counsel Nancy Werner, "There will be litigation over the final order."