Michigan Bill Causes ESA Suit
ESA Prepares Lawsuit over New Bill
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The signing of a Michigan law, that is much like the bill before Gov. Schwarzenegger, has caused the Entertainment Software Association to ready legal action. The suit, which asks that the law be turned over, has won in numerous other states that have tried to pass such a bill, including Indiana and Washington.
"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 Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "I'm confident the court will affirm our position given the rulings on similar statutes in other jurisdictions; indeed, the facts, the science, the law, and the U.S. Constitution have not changed since those decisions were handed down."
The new law could fine retailers who sell violent games to minors between $5,000 and $40,000 or possible imprisonment of up to 93 days. The ESA claims that the declaration over "violent" games is extremely vague and that retailers and developers would have little to no idea if their game may be considered too violent for minors. The ESA also claims that such a bill would cause the government to act as a surrogate parents, when the decision should be left the child's parents.
How many people have seen a parent buy a child Grand Theft Auto regardless of all the warnings?
"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 Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade group representing U.S. computer and video game publishers. "I'm confident the court will affirm our position given the rulings on similar statutes in other jurisdictions; indeed, the facts, the science, the law, and the U.S. Constitution have not changed since those decisions were handed down."
The new law could fine retailers who sell violent games to minors between $5,000 and $40,000 or possible imprisonment of up to 93 days. The ESA claims that the declaration over "violent" games is extremely vague and that retailers and developers would have little to no idea if their game may be considered too violent for minors. The ESA also claims that such a bill would cause the government to act as a surrogate parents, when the decision should be left the child's parents.
How many people have seen a parent buy a child Grand Theft Auto regardless of all the warnings?