Minnesota games bill officially challenged

Minnesota's controversial videogames bill, which calls for fines of US$25 for minors purchasing M-rated videogames, has officially been challenged in US federal court.

According to a report in the Mercury news, a federal judge was asked on Tuesday to halt the bill's implementation into law, on the grounds of violation of constitutional rights to free speech.

The bill was passed by the Minnesota House at the end of May, and was immediately contested by the ESA, just as similar bills have been successfully challenged in numerous US states.

ESA president Doug Lowenstein commented at the time: "The State is attempting to impose liability on children because they know that courts have consistently held that they cannot penalise retailers. We believe that the courts will agree that fining children violates the First Amendment as well."

The bill is due to become law on August 1st, but the legal precident set by the ESA's previous successful challenges of restrictive videogame legislative attempts could well result in the judge overturning Minnesota's proposals.