In a first for video games, the Supreme Court is bringing in the big guns of US jurisprudence into order to rule on a Californian law banning the sale and rental of violent video games to minors.
The law in question (California Civil Code §§ 1746-1746.5) was passed on October 7th 2005 under the guidance of the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and then-Assembley Speaker, Leland Yee. The games industry – specifically the Video Software Dealers Association (now merged into Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association) – filed suit to block the law ten days later.
August 2007 saw the law overturned in a Californian District Court. However, like Governor Schwarzenegger, it kept coming back.
Today, according to Reuters, "The justices agreed to hear an appeal by the state after a U.S. appeals court based in California struck down the law, which also imposes strict video game labeling requirements, as unconstitutional."
Why has the case reached the ultimate bench in the world (well, the USA...) "The law had been challenged by video game publishers, distributors and sellers, including by the Entertainment Software Association. Its members include Disney Interactive Studios, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Corp and Sony Computer Entertainment America", that's why.
The argument is one of 'free speech' based on the First Amendment of the Constitution; the state of California says that free speech does not bar a state from prohibiting the sale of violent video games to minors under 18. The publishers disagree, believing that anybody should be able to buy violent video games.
The law in question (California Civil Code §§ 1746-1746.5) was passed on October 7th 2005 under the guidance of the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and then-Assembley Speaker, Leland Yee. The games industry – specifically the Video Software Dealers Association (now merged into Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association) – filed suit to block the law ten days later.
August 2007 saw the law overturned in a Californian District Court. However, like Governor Schwarzenegger, it kept coming back.
Today, according to Reuters, "The justices agreed to hear an appeal by the state after a U.S. appeals court based in California struck down the law, which also imposes strict video game labeling requirements, as unconstitutional."
Why has the case reached the ultimate bench in the world (well, the USA...) "The law had been challenged by video game publishers, distributors and sellers, including by the Entertainment Software Association. Its members include Disney Interactive Studios, Electronic Arts, Microsoft Corp and Sony Computer Entertainment America", that's why.
The argument is one of 'free speech' based on the First Amendment of the Constitution; the state of California says that free speech does not bar a state from prohibiting the sale of violent video games to minors under 18. The publishers disagree, believing that anybody should be able to buy violent video games.
Comments
Nick 26 Apr 2010 21:57
1/2
If you'd like to read more about the link between violent video games and youth violence, check out Video Games ProCon.org. You will find quotes and arguments on both sides of the debate, as well as information about academic studies done on the topic.
Daz 27 Apr 2010 14:17
2/2
Nick wrote:
If you'd like to read more about the link between violent video games and youth violence, check out Video Games ProCon.org. You will find quotes and arguments on both sides of the debate, as well as information about academic studies done on the topic.
no thanks, it's all a bunch of crap anyway, the kids where obviously messed up to begin with, I grew up with violent video games but I don't go round being Violent for no reason, GTA doesn't make me wanna go round shooting people, manhunt doesn't make me wanna kill my best friend (it makes me wanna get rid of the game but that's another story), all it is, is bad parenting, if they spanked their kids rather than tell them to sit in a corner things would probably be alot different, if I was naughty I'd get smacked, which is why I was mostly a good boy. It has NAFF ALL to do with video games, they're just an escape goat for those who can't see the obvious.