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Anti-Censorship - Lobbying

The IGDA advocates for the rights of game developers by lobbying governmental bodies who try to censor or regulate our creative endeavors. The IGDA opposes any effort that would treat video games differently from other forms of art and entertainment.

Here are some quick updates on the IGDA's anti-censorship efforts and work relating to the concern over violence in games.

Recent legislative activity the IGDA is tracking in the USA:

 

California-State Assembly Bill 1179

Status last updated October 4th, 2005

In the waning hours of the 2005 legislative session, the California Assembly passed AB 1179 which requires "violent" video games imported or distributed in California be labeled with a 2x2 inch "18" on the front of the package and prohibits the sale or rental of such games to persons under the age of 18. This was a follow-on bill from Leland Yee's earlier AB 450. The IGDA encouraged CA-based members to write the governor, urging him to veto the bill.

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Michigan-State SB 416 & SB 249

Status last updated November 15th, 2005

Another anti-game bill to restrict access to content. In this case, there's some competitive shuffling between the two bills, the Democratic SB 249 vs the Republican SB 416. Some IGDA members have been extremely proactive in attending judiciary hearings to testify their opposition. Ultimately, SB 416 passed the house and was approved by the governor. However, on November 9th, a coalition of game industry bodies received a preliminary injuction to prevent the bill from taking effect until a more thorough court ruling.

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Illinois-State House Bill 4023

Status last updated July 26th, 2005

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich proposed legislation on December 16th, 2004, to ban the sale and rental of all violent and sexually explicit video games to persons under the age of 18. On March 17th 2005, legislators granted preliminary approval for the HB4023, moving it along to the senate for review/approval. On March 22nd, the IGDA sent a call-to-action to ~2000 members and registered users in IL, encouraging them to express their opposition to their senators. On May 3rd got one step closer to becoming a law when the Senate Housing and Community Affairs Committee approved the bill, which now moves on for a full Senate vote. On July 25th, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed the bill, which is scheduled to take effect January 1st, 2006. The same day, the ESA filed suite against the state to kill the bill.

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California-State Assembly Bill 450

Status last updated June 3rd, 2005.

California assemblyman Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) introduced AB 450 in mid-February, 2005, that would make it illegal for retailers in the state to sell or rent vaguely defined violent games to children under 17. In addition, the law would require such games to bear a "custom" label. This is a follow-up from his failed attempt with AB 1792. On May 5th, the bill passed the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism, and Internet Media during reconsideration session, despite the bill's defeat earlier in the week. The bill was scheduled for a full Assembly vote, but as of June 3rd, the bill has been tabled for a future session. The IGDA had filed an official letter of opposition and conducted grassroots lobbying with our 12k+ members/users in the state of California.

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Minnesota-State House Bill 1298

Status last updated April 13st, 2005.

The state of Minnesota is looking to impose similar regulations on the sale of M-rated games. More details to come...

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Joe Baca's HR 669

Status last updated August 6th, 2004

Rep. Joe Baca's (D-California) HR 669 "Protect Children from Video Game Sex and Violence Act" bill is is still alive and pending in the House Judiciary Committee which has not yet taken any action on this bill. The original bill (HR 4645) was killed in 2002. In July 2003, Congressman Baca threatened to take the unusual step of bypassing the Judiciary Committee's consideration of this issue by forcing a floor vote on his bill during consideration of an unrelated piece of legislation. Ultimately, due to opposition from the industry and other Members of Congress, he did not offer his amendment up for a vote.

Developers are encouraged to weigh in with their Members of Congress about bills like HR 669 that would harm our industry by regulating games differently than all other forms of entertainment media.

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Washington-State Bill HB1009

Status last updated July 21st, 2004.

On July 15th, 2004, the U.S. District Court in Seattle granted summary judgment to overturn Washington state bill 1009 that was set to regulate certain videogames, ruling the legislation unconstitutional. The decision once again affirms that video games are protected speech. HB 1009 would have banned minors from purchasing video games that depicted violence against law enforcement officers (claiming that the playing the games causes increased aggression and violence in children and young adults). The Court found that the "legislature's belief that video games cause violence, particularly violence against law enforcement officers, is not based on reasonable inferences drawn from substantial evidence."

The IGDA was a joint-plaintiff, along with the ESA, IEMA and other industry organizations who contested HB 1009 as an attack on game creator's ability to express their ideas.

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California-State Bills 1792 & 1793

Status last updated September 30th, 2004.

Late 2003, California Assemblymember Leland Yee introduced two bills to regulate games AB 1792 to redefine violent games as harmful substance to minors (ie, like alcohol and tobacco); and AB 1793 to segregate M games and impose rules/fines on retailers.

In coordination with the ESA, the IEMA and other industry partners, the IGDA worked to oppose these bills. The IGDA called upon it members in California for grassroots outreach. Hundreds on IGDA members sent letters of opposition to their representatives, helping them understand developer concerns over the bills and the lack of respect/understanding of games as an art form.

Yee's first attempt to pass the bills through the Arts Committee failed, but he was given the opportunity to revise and resubmit. Due to pressure from industry, Yee pulled AB 1792 completely and worked to amend AB 1793. After many revisions, a heavily watered-down AB 1793 passed the General Assembly and was subsequently approved by the state senate on August 16th, 2004. AB 1793 was approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on September x, 2004.

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Washington-State Bill 2595

Status last updated March 1st, 2004.

The IGDA conducted grassroots member outreach to the WA Rules Committee members to ensure that SHB 2595 did not get voted out of the Committee. SHB 2595 was going to mandate government funded sting operations and monitoring of retailer compliance. The bill died in Committee in February 2004.

 

St-Louis Ordinance

Status last updated June 3rd, 2003.

The IGDA submitted an amicus brief in support of the ESA's appeal in the county of St-Louis. The appeal was awarded and new laws to regulate games were prevented from going into effect.

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