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ECA: California’s M-Rated Game Law Is Industry’s “Most Important Challenge”



In late April we reported that a California-based law (Schwarzenegger v. EMA) that would make selling video games to minors a federal offense is heading to the Supreme Court. This case won’t actually make it to the court until October, but influential groups like the Entertainment Consumers Association are already preaching the case’s significance.

The ECA is a non-profit organization that represents gamers in major proceedings like this California case. They are submitting an amicus brief to the court regarding the case. An amicus brief is a document from a third party not immediately involved in a court case which is intended to better inform the ruling judge. The ECA is also attaching an online petition against the case, both of which will become official court documents.

In a statement released earlier today, ECA president Hal Halpin said “The gaming sector, as a whole, has arrived at perhaps the single most important challenge it has ever faced in the US. Anyone who cares about gaming should feel compelled to both sign the petition and encourage their friends and family to do similarly. These documents will provide the court with one clear collective voice with which to vocalize our position and reinforce that we agree with the lower court findings: games, like music and movies, are protected free speech."

It’s going to be a long road leading up to the influential case in October. Expect many more developments in the intervening time.

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Comments
  • I will immediately sign that petition.

  • i don't want any minors playing M rated games... I'm tired of 14 yr olds dropping f bombs on halo and the experience would be over all better if that issue was avoided

  • I don't support that law but think the family is where it all should be about. The family is crumbling in this age. Everyone is selfish and lives in sin. A family that trusts and obeys in God will be wise and discerning of things without ignorance and will know their parents and children.  

  • @QuasimodoM

    And you needed to bring up your " god " why?

    religious people always trying to force their belief on everyone else.......

  • Being a minor, I do hate it when young people like me curse and act like idiots or mature rated games, but I handle them very nicely. I don't buy the games my mom does

  • Being a minor, I do hate it when young people like me curse and act like idiots or mature rated games, but I handle them very nicely. I don't buy the games my mom does

  • I strongly agree to what QuasimodoM said.

    Christians don't force beliefs on other people. We proclaim it. we don't force it down your throat. I am just justifying of what true Christians mean when we state the Truth. That's all I am saying.
  • No one is forcing religion down anyone's throat QuasimodoM  is stating his point of view.

  • Mod

    @jack_raid40

    Take that first crap over IGN

    @QuasimodoM

    This law proves there is no god

    I won't weigh in on the debate of minors playing mature rated games.  But in order for this law to be taken seriously is must include ALL forms of media.  Video, audio, paper and everything else!  Mr. Universe doesn't want kids playing Alien Vs Predator but he's cool with them buying the Aliens or Predator movies?

  • what a Dick.

  • Okay, now I am sorry if I come across strict but this is the truth. There is only one God. The universe proves that there is God. The universe did not come from a "big bang". There is no such thing as a big bang, because something does not come out of nothing. Everybody is searching for something. This is my statement.

  • This is just stupid! Then kids will be stuck playing just cuz The terminator said it. i think kids should at least deserve a good game once in a while. I'm sure that his kids are playing mw2 at this very second. if anyone disaggrees with me, plz say so.

  • There's really no need to bring religion into this, it will just start some huge fight about whose beliefs are right and whose aren't...either way just stay to the topic at hand.

    Anyways, I definitely support the petition, I may be a minor, but that doesn't mean I'm going to act like an *** and "drop thew f-bomb" every five seconds. There's a lot of people like me who are mature for their age so even though there are numerous kids who may annoy the hell out of you online, there's plenty of adults in their 20s who spit out plenty of racist comments and curse words. Don't generalize all minors into one group, how would you like to be generalized into one group when you're not even one of those people.

  • Video games deserve to be treated like any other form of media. Notice I said "deserve." They aren't going to be treated that way for another decade or so because the law makers didn't grow up with video games and such. We as humans fear... screw it, I am sick of reading and writing the same stuff over again. These lawmakers are really pissing me off. Get a freaking clue, or get out.

  • *** THE TERIMNATOR *** THE STATE OF CALIFORNA!

  • arnald swarwarzenegger shouldn't even be talking All the movies I've seen with him He kills mindlessly and he was in his own terminator video games. if it's not broken don't try to fix it

  • can you sign it if your from georgia?

  • I will sign this petition.

    @Colton: Overturning this law does not mean 14 year-olds have access to M rated games. What it means is that the state of California and its Governator cannot create a standard for video games which they do not make for other forms of media. They are trying to make video game stores legally accountable for selling minors these games in the same manner as stores who sell liquor to minors or to adults with intent to give to a minor. Meanwhile, movie theaters who let minors into R rated films (same age, 17) and book stores who sells racy books (none of which are rated regardless of subject matter) are not held to the same legal ramifications. Arnold is vilifying video games as if they are the sole cause of violence among minors.

    The fact remains that stores like GameStop and others do not allow minors to purchase these games already, and it's the parents, relatives, or of-age friends who purchase these games for them because they are ignoring the ratings. I'm not suggesting that they be legally culpable either, but this kind of thing is better left to the businesses to enforce themselves and for parents to have an open line of communication with their children about what they're playing.

    Passing this law, as WarBuff6644 says, sets a precedent to include all types of media, and you can watch as the wrong people are arrested simply because families aren't taking responsibilities for themselves.

  • That's the parents' issue not the state's sheesh! I'll sign!

  • Just stop the religion talk. Take that somewhere else. We are here for games not religion.

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