Last night on Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the video game industry on the case of Brown vs. the Entertainment Media Association.
The case started out as a state law in California that was created by California State Senator Leeland Yee (D) and signed into effect by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger all the way back in 2005. The law was to restrict the sale of violent video games to minors.
SCOTUS however, being responsible for interpreting our law, decided that such a law did not fit what the First Amendment, which protects our free speech. This decision pretty much puts video games in the same league as books, movies, and television as far as protection of ‘speech’ goes.
According to Justice Scalia, who wrote the opinion: “the act forbidding sale or rental of violent games to minors does not comport with the 1st Amendment.” Alito concurred with the judgment, joined by the Chief Justice. Justices Thomas and Breyer dissent, in an opinion by Thomas – according to SCOTUSBlog.
Remember that it’s up to you, the parents, to decide if it’s ok for your child to play that GTA or that Gears of War. Just because it was decided that video games shouldn’t be a restricted item to minors doesn’t mean you should rush out and buy Mortal Kombat 9 for your 5-year-old, though it’s ok for you to play, if you want to anyways. I’m still waiting on Skullgirls personally.
via GamePolitics
