A New Game in Town

Now that "Justices Take Case on Video Game Law," it will be interesting to see how the Supreme Court understands the limits of free speech with respect to representations of violence. Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association, which involves a California law banning the sale of violent video games to minors, will be heard by the court in Fall. (See coverage of the 9th Circuit decision on Virtualpolitik here.) It's difficult to predict the outcome. Recently, in a decision on so-called "crush videos," United States v. Stevens, the court ruled in favor of free speech, even in a case involving violent entertainment. I've also said in some choice words about Leland Yee that I don't have much respect for the author of the original bill or his rigor as a conscientious policy maker. But it is called a "conservative court" for a reason, which might be more enthusiastic in defending hunting as recreation, which was an issue of concern in the Stevens ruling, than in defending playing videogames.