MI videogame law killed

A federal judge has overturned a Michigan law restricting sales of violent videogames to minors, saying the law is unconstitutional. "Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the law in September, and it was scheduled to take effect December 1," the Associated Press reports, but US District Judge George Steeh issued a preliminary injunction in November, which was made permanent with Judge Steeh's decision this past week. CNET reports that this is just one of a series of similar free-speech-related decisions concerning videogames, including federal court decisions in Washington, California, and Illinois. "One reason for the judicial skepticism," according to CNET, "is that academic studies have not established a link between simulated violence in video games and real-world action. (Under Supreme Court precedent, such a link between simulated violence and "imminent lawless action" would be necessary to make those laws constitutional.)" That's why, last month, Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) "persuaded a Senate committee to approve a sweeping study of the 'impact of electronic media use'," CNET adds.