ESA confirms legal challenge for Oklahoma games bill

US industry trade organisation the Entertainment Software Association has confirmed its intention to launch a new legal challenge to overturn the latest videogames legislation in the state of Oklahoma.

"The ESA is deeply disappointed by the actions of the Oklahoma Legislature," ESA president Douglas Lowenstein stated. "We believe HB 3400 will restrict the First Amendment rights of Oklahoma's citizens, and intend to file suit in Oklahoma federal district court shortly, asking that the state's new video game law be overturned.

Oklahoma's bill was recently signed into law by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry, and will come into effect on November 1st - making it a felony for anyone in Oklahoma to sell, rent or display games to minors which contain "inappropriate violence" and forcing retail stores to keep such games hidden in a similar fashion to pornographic material.

Reiterating the current legal precedent set by several different courts as a result of the ESA's challenge to similar bills in different US states, Lowenstein added: "We do sincerely appreciate and respect the concerns that these legislators have. However, six courts in five years have struck down similar laws, ruling that they were unconstitutional and rejecting the unpersuasive claims made by states that violent video games cause aggression."

"We hope that sooner or later state legislators and candidates will stop trying to seek headlines by subverting the constitution and frittering away desperately needed taxpayer dollars and instead enter into a constructive partnership to educate parents about the tools available so they, not government, can raise their kids as they see fit," he concluded.

The ESA has successfully halted the implementation of various new laws, thwarting governmental attempts to control the sale of videogames in the US. In spite of this, and the failure of a similarly restrictive and vaguely defined bill in Utah, Oklahoma's bill received little opposition when first presented and its progression thus far has left the trade body with little option but to instigate a litigious strategy to protect the software retail industry.