Any industry that brings in the kind of cash that the video game industry routinely draws in will, eventually, be swarmed by lawyers looking to make their cut. Gamasutra, the Internet’s Ally McBeal of gaming law, has a fantastic article up regarding the many important cases throughout the history of gaming. These are the legal precedents that changed the way developers, mod-makers and gamers all interacted for years to come.
Reading these cases reminds you that not all lawyers are out to destroy our hobby. There are some out there who are working to protect the interests of gamers and developers, as they too believe it’s a First Amendment issue. While some folks in the South might disagree (while tightly clutching their rifles), the First Amendment is our most important right as Americans, and gaming, as much as it seems like a child’s past time to most, is constantly pushing the boundaries of our rights in an effort to solidify the freedom to make a truly new form of art.
If you can learn anything from these cases it’s that the next time you’re spending time with a girl you may be keen on, and she calls gaming “dumb” or “childish”, the best response is to hit her with a gavel.
