14 DAY TRIAL // A new games bill signed into law by Kathleen Blanco extends the current list of sexually explicit material considered harmful to minors. This bill seeks to include games in the same category as pornographic videos, books and magazines.
The bill was entirely approved by the Entertainment Software Association, and will not be contested. This is due to the definition of "harmful to minors" that deals exclusively with sexually explicit and not "violent" content.
The bill was unanimously passed by the Louisiana House earlier this month, and Governor Blanco's signature to implement the bill as law was considered a foregone conclusion.
This happens after a similar bill has passed in the State of Maryland which has been signed by Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr, following a revision to the proposal which removed a government-created ratings system.
This time, ESA President, Doug Lowenstein, commented in favor of these legal initiatives: "The ESA has always been supportive of the inclusion of video games to 'harmful to minor' statues that meet the Supreme Courts obscenity standards. We believe that video games should be treated in the same way that books and movies are treated under the law."
And he concluded that "Where we draw the line is when the law is a violation of the First Amendment, attempting to add violent video games to the 'harmful to minors' statue, a direct violation of citizens' constitutional rights".
A secondary games bill - co-authored by notorious anti-games campaigner Jack Thompson - it is pending a full hearing in which the ESA and EMA are seeking a permanent injunction on grounds of infringement of First Amendment rights.
SOURCES
Gameindustry: Maryland Games Bill GAmeindustry: Louisiana's Second Games Bill
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