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Jack Thompson Decides He's In GTA IV

Posted by Zonk on Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:34 PM
from the i-bet-i'm-in-there-toooo dept.
Entertainment Games
gzerphey writes "Outspoken anti-games lawyer Jack Thompson has decided that a representation of a 2nd amendment lawyer in GTA IV is a mocking version of him. He has declared that if the representation is not removed he will attempt to block the release of the game. Excerpt from GamePolitics: 'The showcasing play of the game to Game Informer revealed that the first killing mission of the hero of the game, Niko, is to kill a certain lawyer. When Niko comes into this lawyer's office, having used subterfuge to do so, Niko pulls a gun on the lawyer who says, that the firm supports the second amendment and that 'Guns don't kill people. Video games do.'"
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Submission: Jack Thompson in GTA IV? by gzerphey (1006177)
[+] Your Rights Online: Jack Thompson Includes Gay Porn With Court Filing 333 comments
An anonymous reader writes "Jack Thompson has done it again, now by making available gay porn for unlimited viewing on public records. Judge Jordan wrote on an issued order: 'The attached exhibit, which includes several graphic images of oral and genital sex between adult males, was filed electronically in the docket in this case, without prior permission from the court... To the extent that the other attorney's alleged conduct is in any way relevant... there was no need for Mr. Thompson to file these graphic images in the public record. A simple reference to the website and its alleged links would have sufficed...'" I'm usually not a fan of giving Thompson continued free publicity, but some of the things he does are just too outlandish not to share.
[+] Thompson Sues ESRB, Best Buy 134 comments
Well known anti-gaming lawyer Jack Thompson is following up on his clever sting operations against Best Buy. He's filed suit against the consumer electronics retailer for allegedly selling M-rated games to underage gamers. He has also included the ESRB in that suit. GamePolitics reports: "As we reported, the claim against Best Buy suit looks as if it will be going nowhere. Thompson has also apparently named the ESRB in the suit. That looks like a non-starter as well. His explanation: 'The ESRB has been sued by Thompson because it is well known that it a) is owned and operated by the video game industry, b) does not even play the games it rates to conclusion, c) routinely mislabels games as to age appropriateness, per testimony before the U.S. Congress, and is engaged in representations to American parents that the age label are accurate and are keeping "Mature" games out of the hands of kids.'"
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  • I thought parody was OK? (Score:5, Informative)

    by Winckle (870180) <mwinckle&gmail,com> on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:36PM (#20655825) Homepage
    Lots of games parody high profile people, with little repercussions.

  • Parody is protected speech (Score:5, Funny)

    by netsavior (627338) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:37PM (#20655847) Homepage
    But what if you parody someone who is already a parody of himself. The deepness is as unlimited as the psychosis.

  • what's next... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by downix (84795) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:37PM (#20655853) Homepage
    The irony of this of course being that by making the claim, he just verified it....

  • I'm in the Game Too! (Score:5, Funny)

    by eldavojohn (898314) * <my/.username@@@gmail.com> on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:38PM (#20655875) Homepage Journal

    ...The fact that the lawyer, killed on Niko's first mission, would bring up video games, makes it clearly a reference to me...
    And the fact that Niko is a regular guy just looking to make some money & very eager to kill a certain lawyer to start off his career makes it clearly a reference to me!

    Can I join you in this suit, Jack? Perhaps a class action lawsuit? I'll meet you in your office tomorrow at noon using methods of subterfuge ... er I mean when you invite me up to discuss this lawsuit.

    What was your address again? "The magical man, from Happy Land, who lives in a gumdrop house on Lolly Pop Lane?" It's so very hard to remember when you're all over the road.

    P.S. I hope the president has gotten back to you about your appeal [slashdot.org] to him. Your entertainment is endless & I highly value it, it would be a shame to have men in clean white suits censoring your communications to the outside world. Truly, it would.

  • plonk zonk (Score:5, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:39PM (#20655893)
    from the i-bet-i'm-in-there-toooo dept.

    I hope you are, Zonk. ::grabs molatov cocktail::

  • What the... (Score:5, Funny)

    by pieaholicx (1148705) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:39PM (#20655907) Homepage
    But wouldn't Jack Thompson had to have played the game to know that the game has a parody of him? Is that hypocrite I smell?

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by NoobHunter (1090113)

      Hypocrite? Jack? Nawwwww....surely you Jest! I mean...minors can get into R rated movies all the time or obtain pR0n from the internet or go to school where bullying is a rampant problem. But them damn video games...that's what's driving today's youth to crime.

  • Enough already. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Ecuador (740021) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:43PM (#20655977) Homepage
    It is pointless articles like this that give that ridiculous man publicity (which he seems to thrive on). I don't want to read any more about it, stop posting on /. and he will be forgotten. Nobody is taking him seriously anyway (not anyone that counts at least - e.g. courts).

    I must admit that the in game parody sound good though. But still, not newsworthy.

    • Re:Enough already. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Shaterri (253660) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:58PM (#20656247)
      Unfortunately, quite a few people *do* take Thompson seriously -- he's still used regularly as a talking-head on news programs talking about video game violence (or at least was, before his recent crazy-turn; that my have been the nail in the coffin). He's dangerously effective at manipulating the media to listen to him, and I for one like to keep on top of what he's up to.

    • Re:Enough already. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Jarjarthejedi (996957) <bookreader13@cox.TEAnet minus caffeine> on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:03PM (#20656375) Journal
      Who cares, it's good for a laugh. If he's really one of those 'Any publicity is good publicity people' then cracking jokes at his expense are really the best service we can do him and everyone else, by giving him publicity and making him out to be about as knowledgeable as Bozo the Clown.

      As for the actual argument, I think we all know that Jacky was going to try and stop GTA IV's release already, no matter what cases are currently centered around him (wasn't there a case to stop him from preventing GTA IV's release?) This is nothing more than a silly excuse for him to continue his attacks on video games, now only is the lawyer not clearly Jack Thompson (he's a person who thinks video games are evil, and happens to be a lawyer...I can think of half a dozen people who fit that mold. It's only Jack Thompson if, A: The person looks exactly like Jacky and quotes him or something, or B: The person playing the game thinks the best RL example is Jacky.) but even if he was parody is legal so Jack wouldn't even have a case then.

      No, this is nothing more than an attempt to gain some publicity (I'm sure at least some of the big papers will play up how the gamers are getting their revenge somehow or something like that) and give him an excuse to try and stop the game's release beyond his tired old 'videogames are evil' routine.

      Anyone else find it amusing that Jack Thompson seems to think a lawyer who says 'Guns don't kill people, Videogames do' is him? Kinda gives a little insight into what he thinks about the matter now doesn't it...

  • If Take Two complies... (Score:3, Insightful)

    by riskeetee (1039912) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:48PM (#20656063)
    ...then Jack is going to wholeheartedly endorse the game? Naw, he'll come up with another reason to file his frivolous lawsuits.

    I'm starting to think Jack Thompson was created by the industry to help sales. Every game this guy rails against becomes a top seller.

  • Reminiscint... (Score:5, Funny)

    by wamerocity (1106155) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:49PM (#20656097) Journal
    I recall a funny statement about how GTA4 was going to be placed in an alternate universe NYC, to which some idiot congressman replied, "placing GTA in New York City is like placing Halo in Disneyland" (because New York is supposedly the safest big city). Well that got everyone thinking, "you know what? That would be the COOLEST BOARD EVER, to play in Disneyland". In a likewise fashion, I would like to make a mod for unreal tournament 3 (since they are much friendlier for user created mods than microsoft) where everybody is Jack Thompson. Who wouldn't want to have a death match of you versus 15 Jack Thompsons??
    Hmmm... maybe if I could kill him in Disneyland, that would be even better!

  • wait... (Score:5, Funny)

    by blackcoot (124938) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:50PM (#20656113)
    people still listen to what this guy has to say? simple solution: by his logic, surely real lawyers can sue for an injunction against jack thomspon ever speaking again since he is clearly a representation of them...
  • There is nothing better, in my opinion, than having others ridicule you, parody you, or even work to convince others that you're evil or crazy. Opinions that polarize attitudes in readers/viewers is a great way to get people to search out the topic, and possibly come across the ridiculed party's opinion on a given subject.

    It's like slashdot's "friend/foe" system. I probably have more foes than friends, but I appreciate both equally, and might even have more appreciation for those who consider me their foes than their friends. If someone rates me a foe, it definitely gives SOME people an interest in "who is this guy that is so hated" moreso than "who is this guy with so many friends." When people trackback to my blog posts with aggressive posts against my opinion, it also brings in a new market of readers to peruse my topics of discussion -- people who likely will HATE my opinion, but in some cases end up jumping over to my side.

    While I don't think Thompson will gain many friends because of the parody, he might get quite a bit of traffic for those who are unfamiliar with his opinion, and this is still positive traffic for him as he can then say "Look at how many gamers are looking up my opinion -- I must be right!"

    I would never, EVER go against anyone who attributes me in jest, parody or ridicule, even if they're pushing libel or slander (especially if they're pushing libel or slander). All marketing and traffic is positive in some way. The more hated you are, the more popular you become, even if that popularity is towards the negative. Look at people like Hitler and Stalin -- they are STILL talked about, even though their legacy is horrific and detested by most people. To me, that's proof that polarization is a key factor in building fame or infamy for those who want it.

    Maybe it's a sociopathic attitude, but it's still truth in my book.

  • Easy (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Eponymous Bastard (1143615) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @12:54PM (#20656175)
    I'm sure there's more than one lawyer in Manhattan that likes the GTA series. If any of you read this, send Rockstar a letter inviting them to use your name and likeness in the game. You get to put screenshots for publicity while at the same time stick it to Thompson.

    Imagine the interviews. Jack Thompson claims the lawyer is him, then the camera cuts to you: No, it's me. Look at this screenshot. Here's a signed affidavit saying it's me!

    Pity I'm not a lawyer, I'd go for it.

  • It's obviously not a reference to Thompson. (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Samurai Cat! (15315) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:00PM (#20656283) Homepage
    After all, he lives in Florida, not New York (even a fictional New York), correct? :D

  • Previous Settlement (Score:4, Informative)

    by oahazmatt (868057) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:01PM (#20656317) Journal
    If I recall correctly, wasn't there an "agreement" made between the makers of GTA and Thompson, the primary factor being that Thompson agreed to no longer speak out against the games or try to block their sales directly or indirectly?

    Or, is Thompson on the payroll now and just bringing more publicity to the title? Hmmm?

  • Precedents (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Wordplay (54438) <geo@snarksoft.com> on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:02PM (#20656349)
    Even if it is a bald-faced parody, sounds like a certain crazy lawyer needs to read up on Hustler Magazine v. Falwell.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hustler_Magazine_v._Falwell [wikipedia.org]

  • Carly Simon (Score:5, Funny)

    by Speare (84249) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:03PM (#20656373) Homepage
    And in other news, Carly Simon finally admits that Jack Thompson was the object of her scorn in her old hit song, "You're So Vain (You Probably Think This Song is About You)."

  • Didn't he dare them to? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by dazedNconfuzed (154242) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:11PM (#20656513)
    A few months ago, didn't JT dare R* to make a game depicting him being "taken out"? or something like that, my memory is fuzzy...

    • Re:Didn't he dare them to? (Score:4, Informative)

      by Jaegar (518423) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @03:17PM (#20659035)

      A few months ago, didn't JT dare R* to make a game depicting him being "taken out"? or something like that, my memory is fuzzy...
      Actually, the challenge was contained in an open letter. His "Modest Proposal" outlined the plot for a game. If it was made, Thompson would donate $10,000 to the charity of the CEO of Take Two's choosing. It was eventually made, but of course Thompson didn't pony up. Gabe and Tycho from Penny Arcade ended up donating the $10,000.

      Of course that compelled Wacky Jacky to send a fax to the local police department asking for assistance in halting the nefarious activities of the two web comics.

      The whole story here [wikipedia.org]

  • Game Informer (Score:3, Funny)

    by Manos_Of_Fate (1092793) <link226@gmail.com> on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:21PM (#20656697)
    Anyone else amused by the fact that Jack Thompson apparently spends more time playing video games and reading gaming mags than some gamers? Of course, it's all for research. Just like my collection of porn.

  • it can't be him (Score:4, Funny)

    by Alzheimers (467217) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:22PM (#20656705)
    The in-game lawyer's name is Tom Jackson, not Jack Thompson, so obviously it's nothing like him!

    (actually, I have no clue. But that'd be pretty cool)

  • Welcome to the USA (Score:4, Interesting)

    by spoonboy42 (146048) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:40PM (#20657103)
    Sorry, Jack, but parody is protected speech here, and by making very public and very inflamatory comments every chance you get, you've made yourself a ripe target for parody. But even other media-whoring lawyers have managed to take it in stride in the past (see the late Johnny Cochrane), and have maybe even been a little flattered that they are culturally relevant enough to be parodied.

    In general, you've made statements and filed lawsuits that show that you are either A: woefully ignorant of the law, or B: intentionally misrepresenting the law for your own benefit. Either way, you are an extremely shitty lawyer.

    P.S. Don't try to sue me for libel. The preceding is a statement of fact.

  • Be glad, Jack.. (Score:5, Funny)

    by Quiet_Desperation (858215) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @01:53PM (#20657355)
    ...that I'm not the lead designer on that game.

    There would be a 10 minutes hidden scene where the Tom Jackson character is repeatedly raped by an enormous number of large farm animals.

    The he'd be forced into oral copulation with filthy homeless guys who have genital sores as yet unidentified by science.

    And it would just go downhill from there.

    Finally, Dexter would show up and end Tom's pain.

  • 'Guns don't kill people. Video games do.' (Score:4, Funny)

    by BlueParrot (965239) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @02:18PM (#20657825)
    Is there a place to buy the T-shirt yet?

  • A Modest Video Game Proposal anyone? (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Jabrwock (985861) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @02:21PM (#20657907) Homepage
    Take Two makes a game where a New York lawyer who works for a firm that believes that "guns don't kill people, video games do" gets killed. Jack Thompson doesn't live in New York, doesn't work for a legal firm, and has never uttered that quote, and I'll bet the lawyer in the game doesn't even look like or sound like him.

    Jack Thompson proposes [wikipedia.org] a video game where a CEO of New York-based "Take This" called Paula Eibel gets murdered for creating violent videogames. Lawyers who work at "Blank Stare" are also massacred. Paul Eibel was the CEO of Take Two at the time, and their headquarters is in New York, as is Blank Rome, the legal firm that they employ.

    Jack's stuff is parody (his claim), but GTAIV is a death threat?

    Please.

  • Definition of Jack Thompson (Score:4, Funny)

    by Mingco (883841) on Tuesday September 18 2007, @04:49PM (#20660575)
    Because of Grand Theft Auto 4, a 3rd rate lawyer whines about a 2nd Amendment lawyer in a video game and tramples the 1st Amendment in order to earn zero respect.

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