Washington - The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a U.S. video game publisher trade group, has announced that the state of Minnesota has been ordered by a federal court to pay the group $65,000 in attorneys' fees, expended during a challenge to the state's law banning the sale of violent games to minors.

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty signed the law, which would have fined minors attempting to purchase M-rated games, in 2006, and U.S. District Court Judge James Rosenbaum later ruled it to be an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

The state then lost its appeal to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and was denied a rehearing before the entire 8th Circuit.

"Minnesota's citizens should be outraged at paying the bill for this flawed plan," said ESA chief executive Michael Gallagher.

"Minnesota's public officials ignored legal precedent and instead pursued a political agenda that ultimately cost taxpayers money."

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