WASHINGTON, April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement was issued today by Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association, which represents U.S. computer and video game publishers, in response to the Supreme Court's decision to grant a writ of certiorari and thus agree to review California's video game law.

"Courts throughout the country have ruled consistently that content-based regulation of computer and video games is unconstitutional. Research shows that the public agrees, video games should be provided the same protections as books, movies and music.

"As the Court recognized last week in the U.S. v. Stevens case, the First Amendment protects all speech other than just a few 'historic and traditional categories' that are 'well-defined and narrowly limited.' We are hopeful that the Court will reject California's invitation to break from these settled principles by treating depictions of violence, especially those in creative works, as unprotected by the First Amendment.

"A poll recently conducted by KRC Research found that 78 percent believe video games should be afforded First Amendment protection. We look forward to presenting our arguments in the Supreme Court of the United States and vigorously defending the works of our industry's creators, storytellers and innovators."

SOURCE Entertainment Software Association