More news from Merkania: violent games ban overturned
Paul C. Dickie, 24 Dec 2005 02:25:59
The German-born 'Governor' of California is having quite a rough time at
present. Last week, he was 'forced' to deny clemency for Tookie
Williams and let him be executed for a crime he probably did not commit.
This week, one of his own addled laws has been prevented from being
implemented:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4554988.stm
Judge blocks law on violent games
A Californian law that made it illegal to sell or rent violent or
sexually explicit games to children has been blocked by a US federal
judge. Citing freedom of speech worries US district judge Ronald Whyte
granted an injunction to stop the law coming into force on 1 January.
Judge Whyte also questioned whether it was possible to ban sales to
minors.
The ruling comes as US politicians draft national laws to stop the sale
of adult-themed games to children.
Courtroom battle
The Californian law was drafted in October and aimed to make it a crime
for games that "depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that
is especially heinous, atrocious or cruel" to be sold or rented to those
under 18.
Signed into law by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the
measure imposed $1,000 (£575) fines every time it was broken.
The passing of the law was challenged by the Entertainment Software
Association and the Video Software Dealers Association which represent
game makers and retailers.
The two organisations filed a lawsuit claiming that the law risked
breaking free speech statutes.
In granting the injunction, Judge Whyte said the two groups could be
right in saying it risked breaking such laws.
ESA president Doug Lowenstein said: "For the sixth time in five years,
federal courts have now blocked or struck down these state and local
laws seeking to regulate the sale of games to minors based on their
content, and none have upheld such statutes."
Other rulings on violent or sexually-themed games have been proposed in
several US states including Illinois and Michigan.
The injunction only delays the introduction of the law and now both
sides in the row will get a chance to argue their case before a court.
Backers of the law said Judge Whyte's block was only a "temporary
pause".
The rash of attempts to limit sales of such games came after explicit
sex scenes were found in the PC version of GTA: San Andreas. The
discovery of the scenes led to that game being re-rated as an adults-
only title.
The push for national laws on the sale of adult-themed games to children
is being spearheaded by Senator Hilary Clinton who believes that the
computer game industry's self-rating system was not working.
-----------------------------
One might have *known* a woman was behind it...
--
< Paul >
Roel, 24 Dec 2005 08:17:07
Paul C. Dickie wrote:
> The German-born 'Governor' of California is having quite a rough time at
> present.
Actually, AFAIK, that should be Austria-born.
Roel
--
http://www.touwtjes.tk/ - bondage website (Dutch & English)
http://yahoo.touwtjes.tk/ - Bondage forum & community (Dutch)
http://www.the-ice-castle.co.uk/forum/
Amelie, 24 Dec 2005 13:49:18
next they will ban all cartoons that show cruelty to animals - so goodbye
road-runner, tom and jerry, etc. etc. and of course, Grimm and Hans
Christian Andersen....
latest book Hosts of Angels preview, ebook and paperback available from
http://www.lulu.com/content/175757
also feel welcome to visit my free Self-help.Self-esteem site at
http://www.youareunique.co.uk or preview
stories and poems on http://www.tellyouatale.com under pen name Amelia May
Kingston.
----- Original Message -----
"Paul C. Dickie"
, 24 Dec 2005 13:49:18
Sent: Saturday, December 24, 2005 2:22 AM
> The German-born 'Governor' of California is having quite a rough time at
> present. Last week, he was 'forced' to deny clemency for Tookie
> Williams and let him be executed for a crime he probably did not commit.
> This week, one of his own addled laws has been prevented from being
> implemented:
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4554988.stm
>
> Judge blocks law on violent games
>
> A Californian law that made it illegal to sell or rent violent or
> sexually explicit games to children has been blocked by a US federal
> judge. Citing freedom of speech worries US district judge Ronald Whyte
> granted an injunction to stop the law coming into force on 1 January.
>
> Judge Whyte also questioned whether it was possible to ban sales to
> minors.
>
> The ruling comes as US politicians draft national laws to stop the sale
> of adult-themed games to children.
>
> Courtroom battle
>
> The Californian law was drafted in October and aimed to make it a crime
> for games that "depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that
> is especially heinous, atrocious or cruel" to be sold or rented to those
> under 18.
>
> Signed into law by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the
> measure imposed $1,000 (£575) fines every time it was broken.
>
> The passing of the law was challenged by the Entertainment Software
> Association and the Video Software Dealers Association which represent
> game makers and retailers.
>
> The two organisations filed a lawsuit claiming that the law risked
> breaking free speech statutes.
>
> In granting the injunction, Judge Whyte said the two groups could be
> right in saying it risked breaking such laws.
>
> ESA president Doug Lowenstein said: "For the sixth time in five years,
> federal courts have now blocked or struck down these state and local
> laws seeking to regulate the sale of games to minors based on their
> content, and none have upheld such statutes."
>
> Other rulings on violent or sexually-themed games have been proposed in
> several US states including Illinois and Michigan.
>
> The injunction only delays the introduction of the law and now both
> sides in the row will get a chance to argue their case before a court.
> Backers of the law said Judge Whyte's block was only a "temporary
> pause".
>
> The rash of attempts to limit sales of such games came after explicit
> sex scenes were found in the PC version of GTA: San Andreas. The
> discovery of the scenes led to that game being re-rated as an adults-
> only title.
>
> The push for national laws on the sale of adult-themed games to children
> is being spearheaded by Senator Hilary Clinton who believes that the
> computer game industry's self-rating system was not working.
>
> -----------------------------
>
> One might have *known* a woman was behind it...
>
>
>
> --
> < Paul >
>
>
>
>
> --
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>
Paul C. Dickie, 24 Dec 2005 19:11:27
In message <43AD0272.8010004@gmail.com>, guilty^
wrote:
>Paul C. Dickie wrote:
>
>> The German-born 'Governor' of California is having quite a rough time at
>> present.
>
>Actually, AFAIK, that should be Austria-born.
Yes, of course. Just like Hitler...
--
< Paul >