IndustryGamers - Informing the Games Industry

Could California Game Law Lead To An Exodus From The Industry?

Posted October 27, 2010 by M.H. Williams

On the eve of the Supreme Court’s review of the controversial California game law, one of the top interactive entertainment attorneys in the U.S. says that the ban would have a huge effect on the industry. Patrick Sweeney leads the Video Game practice at Reed Smith LLP and represents clients like EA, THQ, Sony Online Entertainment, and Nintendo.

“Certainly less games would be produced and there would be a corresponding job loss,” Sweeney said. “But I expect the impact will likely be significantly deeper. I believe the independent development community would be severely impacted. Innovation, both from a creative and technological aspect, would also be stifled. The companies, brands and individuals that we should be embracing as the visionaries of this creative and collaborative industry will migrate their talents to a more expressive medium."

A coalition of media groups and numerous First Amendment experts stand with the industry against the legislation, but will it be enough to sway the Supreme Court? The first oral arguments are set to begin on November 2.

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More news about interactive entertainment law can be found in our Law section.

M.H. Williams has been writing in some form or another for ten years and has been a hardcore gamer since the NES first graced American shores.  You can catch him on Twitter as @AutomaticZen, Google+ as himself, or on his personal Facebook page.