Thompson Sues ESRB, Best Buy 134
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.'"
Re:IANAL (Score:5, Interesting)
The last time I checked he ESRB ratings aren't legally binding; hence a retailer can sell an M rated game to a four year old if they really wanted to... I realize people can be sued for almost anything, but still...
Re:His kid must be mortified (Score:5, Interesting)
Me thinks Jacko may have made a bit of a mistake this time. Last time I heard about someone doing this, it was a guy who dressed his 14 year old daughter up and made her look over 21. He sent her to a bar who's owner he hated to get the owner in trouble. The judge took one look at the case, threw out the charges against the bar, and had charges filed against the parents for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Here's to hoping a similar thing happens in this case.
Re:IANAL (Score:3, Interesting)
Where's the money? (Score:3, Interesting)
I mean, he keeps filing lawsuits, but a) not for specific damages for him, and b) he never wins. He definitely doesn't have a chance to actually practice law or anything...
Or is he just on a retainer for people who want games banned/people who don't want games banned and realise that having a nut like JT doing all the talking is doing their cause wonders?
Re:Self counter-suit mayhem (Score:5, Interesting)
Apparently in Thompsonland. Suing Best Buy for not enforcing something that courts have said *cannot* be made mandatory seems to me to be going nowhere fast. He's using tactics similar to the 65 million dollar pants lawsuit, too -- claiming that because Best Buy said they enforce the ratings, they can be sued into oblivion for not being perfect. (The pants man claimed a "satisfaction guaranteed" sign meant they had to give him anything he wanted. Literally.)
Re:His kid must be mortified (Score:4, Interesting)
Jack knows he will lose. He wants to get enough of the Tipper Gores in the world angry about this inability to enforce the ratings. No telling what effect that would have. I think it would actually be fine for gaming. Jack's just an idiot.