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The Blog
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Illinois video game law overturned.
Posted: Monday 05th of December 2005 07:38:50 PM
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Gov. Rod Blagojevich vowed to appeal a federal judge's ruling that shot down a new Illinois law banning the sale of violent or sexual video games to minors.
U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly ruled Friday that Illinois' restrictions are unconstitutional and barred the state from enforcing the law.
The Democratic governor and other supporters of the measure have argued that children were being harmed by exposure to games in which characters go on killing sprees or sexual escapades.
"This battle is not over," Blagojevich said in a statement. "Parents should be able to expect that their kids will not have access to excessively violent and sexually explicit video games without their permission."
Kennelly said state officials came "nowhere near" demonstrating that the law passes constitutional muster.
Opponents had declared the law a restriction on free speech and pointed out that similar laws had been struck down in other states.
Turns out that maybe parents really should keep an eye on what their kids are doing. As a parent, I know that the ESRB is a guideline for me to know what they're playing. It seems to me, however, that too many parents are acting, if not actually saying, that the ESRB is responsible for their 9-year-old playing Grand Theft Auto at home.U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kennelly ruled Friday that Illinois' restrictions are unconstitutional and barred the state from enforcing the law.
The Democratic governor and other supporters of the measure have argued that children were being harmed by exposure to games in which characters go on killing sprees or sexual escapades.
"This battle is not over," Blagojevich said in a statement. "Parents should be able to expect that their kids will not have access to excessively violent and sexually explicit video games without their permission."
Kennelly said state officials came "nowhere near" demonstrating that the law passes constitutional muster.
Opponents had declared the law a restriction on free speech and pointed out that similar laws had been struck down in other states.
Let's call a spade a spade, here: If you don't like what your kid is playing, then don't let them. If they're playing something inappropriate, it's because you're not monitoring them close enough. It all comes down to the parents. Period. I'm willing to take absolute responsibility for my kids... I wish I could say the same of the rest of Americans.
Microsoft threatens to withdraw Windows from Korea
Posted: Saturday 29th of October 2005 10:07:07 PM
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT - news) has threatened to withdraw its Windows software from South Korea if the country's antitrust agency orders it to unbundle its Instant Messenger and Media Player from the operating system.
South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has been investigating allegations that the world's top software maker breached antitrust laws by incorporating the services into Windows.
"If the KFTC enters an order requiring Microsoft to remove code or redesign Windows uniquely for the Korean market, it might be necessary to withdraw Windows from the Korean market or delay offering new versions in Korea," Microsoft said in a U.S. regulatory filing on Thursday.
The KFTC began its probe in 2001 when South Korean Internet portal Daum Communications Corp. (035720.KQ) alleged Microsoft's bundling of the operating system with other services broke antitrust rules. It widened the probe following a similar complaint from RealNetworks (Nasdaq:RNWK - news) in 2004.
A ruling could come as soon as Wednesday, a KFTC spokesman said.
"No matter what Microsoft does, we will proceed with our deliberation and discuss it again at a plenary session on Wednesday," Lee Tae-hwi said by telephone. "There is no change in our stance to fight unfair business practices."
Microsoft has previously said the complaint was without merit and that it would cooperate fully with the probe.
In the United States, Microsoft agreed to pay RealNetworks $761 million early this month to settle an antitrust suit accusing it of using its dominance to promote its own Media Player.
After the agreement, RealNetworks said it was dropping similar suits in South Korea and Europe.
But the Korean commission has said its investigation would not be affected by the settlement.
Microsoft on Thursday posted a 24 percent rise in quarterly profit on robust sales of Windows, but tempered expectations of a sales spike.
Without getting sucked into the argument of whether or not Microsoft does indeed abuse it's dominance to pimp Media Player on the world, or if they're simply trying for the "total integration" theory, this article begs one major question: What will the Korean StarCraft Gaming League do if they have no platform on which to ply their trade? Oh, the shame!
South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has been investigating allegations that the world's top software maker breached antitrust laws by incorporating the services into Windows.
"If the KFTC enters an order requiring Microsoft to remove code or redesign Windows uniquely for the Korean market, it might be necessary to withdraw Windows from the Korean market or delay offering new versions in Korea," Microsoft said in a U.S. regulatory filing on Thursday.
The KFTC began its probe in 2001 when South Korean Internet portal Daum Communications Corp. (035720.KQ) alleged Microsoft's bundling of the operating system with other services broke antitrust rules. It widened the probe following a similar complaint from RealNetworks (Nasdaq:RNWK - news) in 2004.
A ruling could come as soon as Wednesday, a KFTC spokesman said.
"No matter what Microsoft does, we will proceed with our deliberation and discuss it again at a plenary session on Wednesday," Lee Tae-hwi said by telephone. "There is no change in our stance to fight unfair business practices."
Microsoft has previously said the complaint was without merit and that it would cooperate fully with the probe.
In the United States, Microsoft agreed to pay RealNetworks $761 million early this month to settle an antitrust suit accusing it of using its dominance to promote its own Media Player.
After the agreement, RealNetworks said it was dropping similar suits in South Korea and Europe.
But the Korean commission has said its investigation would not be affected by the settlement.
Microsoft on Thursday posted a 24 percent rise in quarterly profit on robust sales of Windows, but tempered expectations of a sales spike.
Anti-gaming silliness.
Posted: Saturday 22nd of October 2005 08:10:55 PM
For any of you that aren't already aware, there are some very foolish folks out there that think federal regulation of gaming is more important that good parenting.
Case in point, Mr. Jack Thompson, a lawyer from Florida, has on numerous occasions thought it prudent to harrass, badger, and threaten litigation against several people related to the game industry. His most recent targets have been Gabe and Tycho over at Penny Arcade. Take a look at the last week's worth of posts. This guy went so far as to threaten to sue them after they replied to an email that he initiated.
Stupid people annoy me.
For what it's worth, I think that the ESRB does a pretty good job for the most part. I am maybe a bit more conservative than they are, though. For example, I think the Grand Theft Auto series should be AO (Adults Only) because of the violent content. That's a good indicator to parents of the content. Past that, though, it's entirely up to the parents to monitor and be involved in their kids' activities. If they're not, and they try to blame the ESRB, publisher or developer of a game, that's just plain laziness. As a parent, I'd feel unforgivably responsible if one of my kids did something and then tried to blame it on a game.
Leave parenting to the parents, folks. The ESRB is there to be a guide. Don't try to remove the content if you don't like it.. just don't buy it, or let your kids.
Out.
Case in point, Mr. Jack Thompson, a lawyer from Florida, has on numerous occasions thought it prudent to harrass, badger, and threaten litigation against several people related to the game industry. His most recent targets have been Gabe and Tycho over at Penny Arcade. Take a look at the last week's worth of posts. This guy went so far as to threaten to sue them after they replied to an email that he initiated.
Stupid people annoy me.
For what it's worth, I think that the ESRB does a pretty good job for the most part. I am maybe a bit more conservative than they are, though. For example, I think the Grand Theft Auto series should be AO (Adults Only) because of the violent content. That's a good indicator to parents of the content. Past that, though, it's entirely up to the parents to monitor and be involved in their kids' activities. If they're not, and they try to blame the ESRB, publisher or developer of a game, that's just plain laziness. As a parent, I'd feel unforgivably responsible if one of my kids did something and then tried to blame it on a game.
Leave parenting to the parents, folks. The ESRB is there to be a guide. Don't try to remove the content if you don't like it.. just don't buy it, or let your kids.
Out.
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