Haitian groups seek ban on Vice City
The row between publisher Take Two Interactive and Haitian civil rights groups in the United States has escalated further, with a lawsuit being filed in Florida seeking an outright ban on the sale of GTA Vice City.
The row between publisher Take Two Interactive and Haitian civil rights groups in the United States has escalated further, with a lawsuit being filed in Florida seeking an outright ban on the sale of GTA Vice City.
The legal action comes despite a move by Take Two last month to placate the Haitian groups by removing controversial dialogue from future copies of the game, including the line "kill the Haitians", which was highlighted by a US report last month, kicking off the current dispute.
Haitian groups are seeking some $15,000 in damages as well as a complete ban on the sale of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and the case is due to be heard before the state circuit court in Palm Beach County, Florida, in the near future.
It seems unlikely that the complaint of the Haitians will be upheld. Although the court of the media has been prepared to crucify Take Two, portraying the company's products as glorifying racism, a court of justice would have to take into account the small matter of context - namely the fact that the "offensive" phrases in the game actually refer specifically to a rival Haitian drug gang, rather than to the race in general.