Take Two Takes On Jack Thompson - 18.3.07

With the release of Manhunt 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV on the horizon, game publisher Take Two has decided not to take the grandstanding of Jack Thompson any more.

The company has filed a federal lawsuit against Thompson in Florida. The suit comes on the heels of Thompson’s statements about his intent to try and get both games blocked from being released. The company has requested that a judge “enjoin him from bringing suit on behalf of the State of Florida to enjoin the sale of GTA IV or Manhunt 2.”

According to Ars Technica, “Take Two claims that Thompson is misusing Florida's ‘nuisance’ law, and they point out that attempts to regulate the sale of violent video games have repeatedly faltered, including cases in which the law was drafted by Thompson himself.”

Take Two is also saying that Thompson’s actions have violated the company’s First Amendment rights to free expression and that they are “so vague as to be unconstitutional. This unconstitutional vagueness will have a chilling effect on Plaintiff as well as Plaintiff's customers," says the company. "Plaintiff's distributors likely will respond to the uncertainty and fear of penalties by withholding Plaintiff's video games from the public."

While Thompson has responded in typical Thompson flaming style, it will be very interesting to see how the court reacts.

In his letter to Ars Technica, Thompson wrote: “This lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, is, without a doubt, the single dumbest thing I have ever seen any lawyers do in my thirty years of practicing law--while in continuous good standing to do so with The Florida Bar, I might add, the shock radio and video game industry's efforts notwithstanding.”

Just wondering out loud here, but if that’s the single dumbest thing he’s seen a lawyer do, does he call wasting Louisiana taxpayers’ money on a law he knew didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in Hades smart?

At any rate, it will be up to the courts to decide if Take Two can shut Jack down before he gets started. As a Florida taxpayer, video gamer and a parent who understands the concept of self-censoring, I can only hope.

Related:
Louisiana Passes Jack Thompson’s Law
Louisiana Denied Anti-Video Game Law
A Jack Attack – Thompson That Is
Jack Thompson On Another Witch Hunt
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Labels: grand theft auto, jack thompson, manhunt 2, take two, thompson law suit