ECA Provides Gamers With United Voice in the Upcoming Violence in Video Games U.S. Supreme Court Case

Non-Profit Consumer Advocacy Group Begins Work on Official Court Documents for Submission

WILTON, Conn., May 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), the non-profit membership organization that represents gamers, today confirmed that they will be submitting a friend of the court document (amicus brief) to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the upcoming violence in video games case, Schwarzenegger v. EMA. Additionally, the association has created a gamer petition, which will be attached and submitted along with the brief, both formally becoming part of the official court documents.

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"The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the State of California's infamous 'violent video game case' later this year, or early next," said Jennifer Mercurio, Vice President and General Counsel for the ECA. "At that time, the Court is going to listen to oral arguments on whether to agree with previous federal court findings or not. Agreeing would mean that they believe that video games are, and should continue to be, First Amendment protected speech; just like movies and music. The Court disagreeing would mean that video games should be treated differently, which the ECA strongly believes to be unconstitutional and could lead to new bills and laws curtailing video game access in states across the country."

To address this important decision, in addition to submitting its amicus brief, the ECA has initiated a gamer petition, which will be submitted to the Court prior to the hearing. The petition establishes an authoritative collective position by American consumers of interactive entertainment and it enshrines each and every signatory's participation in the court documents and records.

"The gaming sector, as a whole, has arrived at perhaps the single most important challenge it has ever faced in the U.S.," said Hal Halpin, President of the ECA. "The medium itself and how it, the trade, and its consumers will be perceived for the long term is at stake. Anyone who cares about gaming should feel compelled to both sign the petition and encourage their friends and family to do similarly. These documents will provide the court with one clear collective voice with which to vocalize our position and reinforce that we agree with the lower court findings: games, like music and movies, are protected free speech."

To sign the gamer petition, please go to: www.GamerPetition.org. For more information on the ECA or to learn more about the ECA's amicus brief and the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court's hearing of California's violent video game case, please visit: www.theECA.com.

About The ECA

The ECA is the non-profit membership organization which represents consumers of interactive entertainment in the US and Canada. The association was founded to give gamers a collective voice with which to communicate their concerns, address their issues and focus their advocacy efforts. As such, the ECA is committed to a host of public policy efforts, empowering and enabling the membership to effect change. Additionally, the organization provides members substantial affinity benefits including discounts on games-related purchases and rentals, as well as community and educational initiatives. For additional information on the ECA, including affinity benefits, member discounts and joining the association, please visit: www.theECA.com

SOURCE Entertainment Consumers Association