JURIST - Paper Chase: Michigan violent video games ban ruled unconstitutional

[JURIST] US District Court Judge George Steeh [official profile] has struck down [opinion, PDF] a Michigan law [PDF text] prohibiting the sale of certain violent video games to minors, ruling that the law is unconstitutionally vague [ESA press release]. The law was signed by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm [official website] last September but the Michigan Retailers Association, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), and the Video Software Dealers Association [trade websites] filed a lawsuit claiming that the law infringed on First Amendment rights [LII backgrounder]. Steeh ordered a preliminary injunction [JURIST report] against the law taking effect as planned in December, and his ruling Friday makes the injunction permanent.

A spokesperson for Granholm, who was named as a defendant in the case along with Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox [official website], said they would consider appealing the ruling. Similar laws in Washington, California and Illinois have also been delayed or struck down [JURIST report]. AP has more. Tuesday's Detroit Free Press has local coverage.

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