Dear IGDA member/user, I am writing to alert you to legislation (HB 4023) that would harm the video game industry in Illinois and have potential negative repercussions across the entire industry. This legislation overwhelming passed the State House (91-19), despite the fact that: "Lawmakers from both parties called the proposal vague, poorly thought out and 'patently unconstitutional', but most of them ultimately voted for the bill, worried a no vote could lead to a ready-made attack ad during their next campaign." http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-leg17.html Take Action =========== Your help is needed to stop this legislation. The State Senate will be considering this legislation in early April. It is imperative that you email or fax your State Senator AS SOON AS POSSIBLE to urge him/her to vote against this legislation. A draft letter that you can use/modify is available at the IGDA site: http://www.igda.org/censorship/IL_letter.php Jump to the IL site to search for your State Senator by your address: http://www.elections.state.il.us/dls/pages/SelectOfficialSearch.asp More Details ============ HB 4023 criminalizes the sale or rental of video games to minors that contain "certain violent" material and would require retailers to place warning labels on any games containing such content. This legislation treats video games differently than any other form of media. And, it ignores the fact that the industry (ie, developers, publishers, retailers) already voluntarily support the ESRB ratings system and have taken actions to be ever more responsible about how games are sold. Video games are an expressive medium worthy of the same constitutional free speech protections as movies, books, music and art. Attempts to regulate video game content or a consumer's access to the creativity and expression contained in video games, as provided in this bill, would run afoul of constitutional protections. In turn, this legislation would subject the video game industry to regulations that could cripple its ability to compete in the marketplace, hurt an industry that directly and indirectly employs many people in Illinois (like yourself!), as well as stagnate the art form of games. Check the IL legislature for details on the bill: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/94/hb/09400hb4023.htm Jump to the IGDA's lobbying status page to see other articles and related links: http://www.igda.org/censorship/lobbying.php#hb4023 Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. Thanks in advance for helping out! PS: If you are a studio head/manager, it is imperative that you make it clear to your senator that you are an employer in the state of IL and the potential negative impact regulation would have on your company. And, pass along this email to all your employees so they each can take personal action. PPS: Would be great if we had a sense of who was doing what, so please send me a quick email to let me know that you've emailed/faxed your senator. Thanks! Regards, Jason ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jason Della Rocca Executive Director International Game Developers Association http://www.igda.org/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do or do not. There is no try." - Yoda