Minnesota video game law blocked by court

Here’s a win for the video gaming industry: a judge from the US Court of Appeals issued a ruling to block a Minnesota video game law that was passed way back in 2006. The law proposed a bill that calls for US$ 25 fine every time a minor below 17 is caught renting or buying a Mature or Adults Only game. Read more about it in the full article.

Remember the proposed Minnesota bill that called for a US$ 25 fine every time a minor below 17 is caught renting or buying a Mature or Adults Only game? As it turns out, a judge from the US Court of Appeals blocked the policy, just a day before it was supposed to take into effect.

The judge raised points about the proposed bill, and put to attention the lack of evidence that video games directly harmed or affected Minnesota children in any way. Here’s an excerpt from the judge’s ruling:

Indeed, a good deal of the Bible portrays scenes of violence, and one would be hard-pressed to hold up as a proper role model the regicidal Macbeth. Although some might say that it is risible to compare the violence depicted in the examples offered by the State to that described in classical literature, such violence has been deemed by our court worthy of First Amendment protection, and there the matter stands.

Well, there you have it. It’s a win for the video game industry (and, we dare to surmise, the gamers as well) indeed, and that’s all thanks to the First Amendment.

Via CNET News