Jack Thompson Praises God, Maker of Videogames
Strikes back at Take Two’s attempts to gag him
Yaweh considers the legal position and then moves on...
There is never a dull moment in the videogame industry with anti-videogame campaigners like Jack Thompson around, particularly when he writes the whole industry a letter quoting none other than God himself – specifically, “Psalm 35, a Psalm of David, which is brilliant in its entirety (since God Himself wrote it)”.
Read on for the latest on Jack’s crazy antics.
The latest misguided missive from the Lord’s mouth (via Thompson) is a response to a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) that publisher Take Two announced late last week. Take Two filed a federal court case against him in the state of Florida following Thompson publicly stating his intentions to attempt to block GTA IV and Manhunt 2 going on sale later this year.
SLAPPs are highly contentious as not only do they tend to be used by corporations against individuals as a method to heap legal costs on the individual, but some US states have actually brought in anti-SLAPP legislation!
Take Two clearly states that Thompson has, in the past, "brought suit on behalf of the State of Florida, dismissed it, filed again, sought a temporary restraining order, and then failed to pursue that motion."
Take Two also claims that the suits are so vague as to be unconstitutional. "This unconstitutional vagueness will have a chilling effect on Plaintiff as well as Plaintiff's customers… Plaintiff's distributors likely will respond to the uncertainty and fear of penalties by withholding Plaintiff's video games from the public."
Thompson, in predictable fashion, has hit back today, firing off the following missive. (Warning: this is unintentionally hilarious)
Right, so let’s just get this right:
A god created everything. Check.
GTA exists and is therefore part of everything. Check.
Therefore a god created GTA. Check.
Crikey, it all starts to get quite complicated when you introduce gods into legal arguments doesn’t it?
Read on for the latest on Jack’s crazy antics.
The latest misguided missive from the Lord’s mouth (via Thompson) is a response to a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) that publisher Take Two announced late last week. Take Two filed a federal court case against him in the state of Florida following Thompson publicly stating his intentions to attempt to block GTA IV and Manhunt 2 going on sale later this year.
SLAPPs are highly contentious as not only do they tend to be used by corporations against individuals as a method to heap legal costs on the individual, but some US states have actually brought in anti-SLAPP legislation!
Take Two clearly states that Thompson has, in the past, "brought suit on behalf of the State of Florida, dismissed it, filed again, sought a temporary restraining order, and then failed to pursue that motion."
Take Two also claims that the suits are so vague as to be unconstitutional. "This unconstitutional vagueness will have a chilling effect on Plaintiff as well as Plaintiff's customers… Plaintiff's distributors likely will respond to the uncertainty and fear of penalties by withholding Plaintiff's video games from the public."
Thompson, in predictable fashion, has hit back today, firing off the following missive. (Warning: this is unintentionally hilarious)
Heads-Up to Video Game Industry Press Re Take-Two Lawsuit Against Jack Thompson
Dear Gamers and Gamer Publications on the Internet and Elsewhere:
I have been praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid, so arrogant, so dumb, even dumber than what they have to date done, that such a misstep would enable me to destroy Take-Two. With the filing of this SLAPP lawsuit last week, my prayers are finally answered.
This lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, is, without a doubt, the single dumbest thing I have ever seen any lawyers do in my thirty years of practicing law--while in continuous good standing to do so with The Florida Bar, I might add, the shock radio and video game industry's efforts notwithstanding.
I encourage folks to read Psalm 35, a Psalm of David, which is brilliant in its entirety (since God Himself wrote it), but for those who don't own a Bible or who think their hands will catch on fire if they touch one, here is the salient portion that applies to this lawsuit:
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
The pit Take-Two has dug for itself will be patently clear next week when I strike back. Oh, and by the way, the entire Take-Two management and board will be gone on March 23, so this pit-digging comes at a very bad time indeed.
Amen, and Praise be to God Almighty, maker of Heaven, Earth, and yes, the maker even of video games. Jack Thompson.
Dear Gamers and Gamer Publications on the Internet and Elsewhere:
I have been praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid, so arrogant, so dumb, even dumber than what they have to date done, that such a misstep would enable me to destroy Take-Two. With the filing of this SLAPP lawsuit last week, my prayers are finally answered.
This lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, is, without a doubt, the single dumbest thing I have ever seen any lawyers do in my thirty years of practicing law--while in continuous good standing to do so with The Florida Bar, I might add, the shock radio and video game industry's efforts notwithstanding.
I encourage folks to read Psalm 35, a Psalm of David, which is brilliant in its entirety (since God Himself wrote it), but for those who don't own a Bible or who think their hands will catch on fire if they touch one, here is the salient portion that applies to this lawsuit:
7 For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.
8 Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.
9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
The pit Take-Two has dug for itself will be patently clear next week when I strike back. Oh, and by the way, the entire Take-Two management and board will be gone on March 23, so this pit-digging comes at a very bad time indeed.
Amen, and Praise be to God Almighty, maker of Heaven, Earth, and yes, the maker even of video games. Jack Thompson.
Right, so let’s just get this right:
A god created everything. Check.
GTA exists and is therefore part of everything. Check.
Therefore a god created GTA. Check.
Crikey, it all starts to get quite complicated when you introduce gods into legal arguments doesn’t it?
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Comments
Joji 19 Mar 2007 13:04
1/4
JT is a poor sap. The very combination of an evil joke in the world, a preaching lawyer.
He has a probelm with popular culture getting attention, and him not getting any for his dumb moral crusades. There are people starving and dying etc, and he has time to spend waging war on video games. The dude needs help fast, quick, a deluxe rubber room awaits.
I'd prescribe regular doses of Trauma Center, Phoenix Wright ( he might actually enjoy that) and Brain Training.
Fairplay to Take Two, give him the legal smackdown.
He has a probelm with popular culture getting attention, and him not getting any for his dumb moral crusades. There are people starving and dying etc, and he has time to spend waging war on video games. The dude needs help fast, quick, a deluxe rubber room awaits.
I'd prescribe regular doses of Trauma Center, Phoenix Wright ( he might actually enjoy that) and Brain Training.
Fairplay to Take Two, give him the legal smackdown.
YenRug 19 Mar 2007 17:09
2/4
Seriously, JT is beginning to come across as suffering from (senile) dementia, they could probably take a fairly easy step to argue his fitness to practise law.
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RiseFromYourGrave 19 Mar 2007 21:00
3/4
he does practise law in america though. half of them love this religous fire and brimstone morality crap. he could actually be allowed to live :P
Phinehas 16 Apr 2007 21:54
4/4
Though your reasoning is wrong at the end of the article, I still agree that Jack Thompson needs to back off and find something else to do with his time.