Monday, June 27, 2011

Games retain freedom of speech and expression.

I just got this email and wanted to share with all my games out there. Pretty important decision made and effects game developers going forward. Without further ado, the email from Video Game Voters Network:

The United States Supreme Court voted 7 to 2 to overturn a California law restricting the sale of computer and video games--declaring those games to be protected speech like any other form of creative expression.

Justice Scalia writes: Video games qualify for First Amendment protection. Like protected books, plays, and movies, they communicate ideas through familiar literary devices and features distinctive to the medium. And "the basic principles of freedom of speech . . . do not vary" with a new and different communication medium.

With our freedom of speech at stake you, and the rest of the Video Game Voters Network, sprung to action. You rallied to oppose this law -and you succeeded. However, our job is not done. We have won our freedom of expression, now join other video game players and game developers in pledging to defend it.

Sign the Gamer's Pledge to protect and defend video games as free speech. The Gamer's Pledge is an emphatic declaration that you agree with the Supreme Court's ruling, and acknowledgment of the work ahead. It says that you will support continued efforts to ensure games are recognized as free speech, and defend these rights against attempts to manipulate the ruling. You contributed a great deal to this victory in the past year.

Collectively, VGVN members sent thousands of letters to state attorneys general, calling on them to oppose the California law. Ten even signed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court, arguing in favor of video games as protected speech. Celebrate today's victory for parents, consumers, video game developers, artists, and all game players by signing the Gamer's Pledge to defend it.

Then tell your friends to do the same: Revel in this victory, and tell your friends today:
http://www.videogamevoters.org/sign-the-pledge

--Video Game Voters Network

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