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Game Industry Sues to Overturn Calif. Ban on Violent Game Sales

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 18, 2005 - 11:34am.
Washington - The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a video game industry trade group, announced on Tuesday that it has filed a federal lawsuit in California aimed at overturning the ban on the sale of violent video games to minors recently signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We believe this bill will meet the same fate as virtually identical statutes that federal courts have routinely struck down in recent years," said ESA president Doug Lowenstein. Bans on violent video game sales have been overturned on First Amendment free speech grounds in Washington state, St. Louis County and the city of Indianapolis. "It is not up to any industry or the government to set standards for what kids can see or do; that is the role of parents," added Lowenstein. Also siding with the ESA in filing the lawsuit was the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA), a trade group of video game retailers and rental firms. The new law fines retail clerks who break the ban $1,000, and forces retail chains in California to more prominently display video game ratings in their stores. The governor responded to the lawsuit in a statement. "I will do everything in my power to preserve this new law and I urge the Attorney General to mount a vigorous defense of California's ability to prevent the sale of these games to children," said Schwarzenegger.
tags: Law | Game Industry | Overturn | Calif. Ban | Violent Game Sales |

Michigan Passes Violent Game Sales Ban; Game Industry to Sue Governor

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 14, 2005 - 3:53am.
Washington -- The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a video game industry trade group, announced on Wednesday that it will sue Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, asking a court to overturn a ban on the sale of violent video games to minors in the state she signed into law today. "Protecting our children must be everyone's top priority," Granholm said. "This is a common-sense law that provides parents with the tools they need to protect their children from the effects of violence and graphic adult content." Calling the language of the bill -- which will become Michigan state law on Dec. 1 -- "hopelessly vague," the ESA pointed out that similar bans have been struck down by the courts in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Washington State. "If this law is implemented, it will not only limit First Amendment rights for Michigan's residents, but, by virtue of its vagueness, it will also create a huge amount of confusion for Michigan's retailers, parents, and video game developers," said ESA president Douglas Lowenstein.
tags: Law | Michigan | Sue | Violent Game | Governor | Game Industry | Sales Ban |

Illinois Enacts Ban on Violent Game Sales; Game Industry Sues to Overturn

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 25, 2005 - 8:29am.
Aurora, Ill. -- Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Monday signed the Safe Game Illinois Act into law, which prohibits the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors in the state. "For the same reason we don't allow kids to buy pornography, for the same reason we don't allow kids to buy cigarettes, for the same reason we don't allow kids to buy alcohol, we shouldn’t allow them to go to stores and buy violent and sexually explicit video games -- games that teach them to do the very things we put people in jail for," said Blagojevich. In addition to fining retailers who break the ban $1,000, it requires them to create their own parental warning labels to place on game packaging, and post signs explaining the industry's game ratings system in their stores. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the large video game industry trade group, announced on Monday that it will file suit in Illinois to have the law thrown out. "In similar cases in St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Washington State, virtually identical bills were struck down, costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees," the ESA said in a statement. The ESA was joined in its complaint by the Video Software Dealers Association, a rental industry trade group, and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. ESA president Doug Lowenstein added, "This law will have a chilling effect on free speech. It will limit First Amendment rights not only for Illinois' residents, but for game developers and publishers, and for retailers who won't know what games can and cannot be sold or rented under this vague new statute."
tags: Law | Ban | Game Industry | Overturn | Violent Game Sales | Illinois |

Japan's Game Industry Sets Voluntary Ban on 18-Rated Sales to Minors

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 19, 2005 - 9:29am.
Tokyo -- Japan's video game industry trade group has introduced a voluntary ban on the sale of 18-rated games to minors by retailers in the country, in a bid to preempt potential government actions. The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) has asked retailers to refuse sales of games rated 18-plus by the Computer Entertainment Rating Organization to minors, unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, and also to place information on video game ratings in their stores. CESA's Kiyoshi Komatsu told GamesIndustry.biz that 95% of Japanese game retailers support the ban, although under the CESA plan as it exists no penalties are provided for retailers who sell violent games to minors.
tags: Law | Japan | Minors | Game Industry | Voluntary Ban | 18-Rated Sales |