NY Legislation Permits Seizure of Unrated Games

March 13, 2007 -

New York State is leading the nation in video game legislation this year.

By our count, the Empire State has at least three video game bills in the works. GamePolitics has previously broken the news about retail-oriented legislative proposals introduced by a pair of Democrats, Rep. Keith Wright and Rep. Aurelia Greene.

A third bill, proposed by Republican Rep. Brian Kolb, offers the standard language prohibiting the sale of violent or sexually explicit games to minors, but brings an unusual twist.

In addition to blocking retailers from selling such games to minors, the bill, A02787, provides "the Courts" the power to confiscate any games which do not clearly display a rating label. The bill also requires retailers to make games available for review by parents prior to purchase.

Kolb's bill calls for fines of up to $1,000 as well as unspecified criminal penalties. If passed, the measure will take effect on November 1st.

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Comments

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 06:40.

So how many unrated games does he think they will confiscate? They only unrated games sold in stores are console games that predate the rating system. So, say good bye to find SNES, NES, Sega, Turbo Graphix, etc.

All currently developed games have a rating on them. The only games made these days with out ratings are downloadable games. But it seems that we are free to download all the violent and pornagraphic games we want because they cannot regulate games that way.

This bill will not pass.

Submitted by Wolf (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 06:47.

"The bill also requires retailers to make games available for review by parents prior to purchase."

It's called "renting." What you do is get into your car, go to the video store, and "rent" a game for a set time, and when the time is up, you go back and drop it off at the video store again, so another person can "rent" it.

Submitted by Thefremen (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 05:01.

Wow. Not to attack the NYFD but I don't think burning books or games is a good idea.

Submitted by ElectroDruid (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 05:07.

Um, so how long has the ESRB system been in place? Are they talking about seizing vintage games just because they came out before the ratings system arrived? What about games distributed online, which don't come with a physical box to attach a physical label to? How many games sold in shops don't have a rating?

What an amazing piece of nonsense Mr. Kolb has managed to come up with.

Submitted by aniki21 (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 05:31.

"The bill also requires retailers to make games available for review by parents prior to purchase."

If most parents can't be bothered to even check the ratings, why would they take the time to review the game itself?

Submitted by CyberSkull (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 04:17.

Hmm.

I don't see this standing up to a legal challenge. ESA gonna get paid (again).

Submitted by CyberSkull (not verified) on Tue, 03/13/2007 - 04:17.

Specifically, the confiscation clause.

Submitted by Chris (not verified) on Wed, 03/21/2007 - 04:47.

The trans fat bill passed did it not? First they tell you what to eat/drink now they are trying to tell you what to play and not play. This bill will pass. Anyone notice ever since the Clintons made it into office in NewYork all these crazy bills have pased?

Submitted by New York may confiscate unrated games at Best-Computer-Deals (not verified) on Mon, 03/19/2007 - 19:44.

[...] New York has a few game laws attempting to pass which are retail-oriented at the moment. However, the latest bill by Rep. Brian Kolb goes a little above and beyond the others. Bill A02787 seeks to provide the courts with the power to confiscate any games that do not have a rating label. When does any game going through standard retail channels not have an ESRB rating? [...]

Submitted by adult japan tv (not verified) on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 23:04.

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Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

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Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm

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ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm

MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm

Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm

MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am

Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

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Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm

Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm

Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm

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