NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes a Tax Break for Developers

March 11, 2009 -

An interesting legislative turnabout is underway in North Carolina.

A state senator who twice in the past introduced bills designed to restrict the sales of mature-themed games to minors has now proposed that the state offer financial incentives to game developers.

Yesterday, Sen. Julia Boseman (D) introduced S525, a new bill that would permit game developers to take advantage of a tax credit of up to 15% for qualifying expenses.

While the measure does not restrict M-rated games as did an earlier proposal in Oklahoma, it does preclude material which qualifies as "obscene" under North Carolina law:

Limitation. – No credit is allowed under this section for qualifying expenses with respect to digital interactive media that contain material that is obscene, as defined in G.S. 14-190.1.

In past sessions, Sen. Boseman introduced bills designed to restrict sales of mature games to minors in 2005 and 2007. Both measures failed to pass.

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Comments

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes a

Submitted by Liz Surette on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 18:32.

I don't believe her stance here is inherently hypocritical. The view that violent video games shouldn't be sold to minors isn't incompatible with generally encouraging game development within your state. Even E-rated games are damn good for your economy.

www.gameslaw.net

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by gamadaya on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 13:18.

I remember that after I commented yesterday about politicians abondoning their stated principles due to the bad economy, somebody, after calling me a troll, asked me what I based my assertion on. I was pissed, so I didn't answer them then. I would just like to say now, case in fucking point.

---------------------------------

Internet troll > internet paladin

-------------------------------------------------------- Believe in something! Even if it's wrong, believe in it! GET OFF MY PHONE! -Glenn Beck

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by Neeneko on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 08:52.

Considering obsene material is already (by definition) illegal, what is the point of exluding it? That is a bit like saying 'we will give tax breaks to photography studios as long as they don't make kiddy porn' or 'we will give tax breaks to horror movie production as long as actors are not actually murdered for the film'.

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 11:11.

It makes sense to add the exclusion. It may be illegal to sell the content, but if they do not specify that producers of said content are inelligible from the beginning, they cannot legally deny incentives to producers of such content.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by Michael Chandra on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 11:31.

So wait, they're allowed to produce it but not allowed to sell it? o_o

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 12:27.

Most states have laws regulating the production of obscene material. I just felt that it is necessary to include those provisions.

In Oklahoma the movie tax incentives apply for all movie productions except for those that fall under illegal or obscene standards as defined by law.

It makes sense to not want to be seen as supporting illegal activity in any way.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by CyberSkull on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 15:49.

So, could one still qualify for a tax break if one produced legal pornography?

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by Liz Surette on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 18:30.

It depends on your definition of "pornography". Nudie pics aren't legally obscene, but they could be seen as pornographic....
Speaking to the rest of these comments, obscenity is not in and of itself illegal--although it may be regulated. A state may never prohibit ownership of obscene material by adults (with exceptions like child porn), but it may drastically limit production, distribution, etc.

www.gameslaw.net

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 15:58.

AS long as it is not considered obscene under the states obscenity laws and meets all other requirements, yes.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by Michael Chandra on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:51.

Ah, that answers my question, "what is obscene?" The illegal stuff, okay. What a silly addition.

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes ...

Submitted by Vake Xeacons on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 09:35.

Inconsistant is right. Question is: Would you call it hypocrisy, or repentence?

Re: NC Senator Failed at Legislating Content, Now Proposes a

Submitted by nightwng2000 on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 08:26.

Actually, her prior legislations didn't "fail". They were just never given the unneccesary time to be looked over and she knew there were more important things on the agenda, so they were never pushed for.

Also, remember that a certain someone claimed to have drafted at least the first version of those prior bills. And, who knows, maybe they did the second but seeing such bills fail, didn't want to own up to it.

Also, the restrictions on this new bill seems out of place with her stance on similar incentives for the movie industry in NC. Another senator opposed tax incentives for development of movies that contained certain content and Senator Boseman opposed those restrictions. Yet, here, she supports them. I emailed her some time back asking her about the interview in which she opposed restrictions to the movie industry incentives, but hadn't heard back. Perhaps this is why.

Her inconsistant stance is rather mind numbing.

Nightwng2000

NW2K Software

Nightwng2000 has also updated his MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Nightwng2000 NW2K Software http://www.facebook.com/nightwing2000 Nightwng2000 is now admin to the group "Parents For Education, Not Legislation" on MySpace as http://groups.myspace.com/pfenl

Shout box

Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm

Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

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

Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm

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

Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm

Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm

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

quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm

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

james_fudge: I think Evan killed it. He's a great guy and super smart.10/17/2014 - 6:38pm

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