Jack Thompson sues Best Buy
Claims it flogs M-rated games to minors
ANTI-GAME crusader Jack Thompson is to sue electronics retailer Best Buy claiming that it peddles "m" rated games to minors.
Thompson will be making the case using Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. He says that Best Buy is violating by offering M-rated games for sale on its website.
In a letter to Best Buy, which has found its way to the news desk of gamepolitics.com, Thompson claims that Best Buy promised him not to sell Mature-rated video games to children under seventeen years of age. However it sells the games to anyone of any age with no real age verification.
But as gamepolitics.com points out Best Buy’s online sales practices are similar to those of other video game retailers. If Jack wins then there are going to be an awful lot of them in a similar boat.
Best Buy's system works on the assumption that those under-17’s do not possess a credit card. It is a policy backed by the Federal Trade Commission.
Best Buy also makes a big think on its website highlighting ESRB ratings.
Thompson is however looking for more plaintiffs to join him in a class action.
More here. µ
Comments
GET A LIFE YOU BUM!
Jack Thompson is the lowest form of pond scum on the face of the earth.He pretends to "uphold" values "protect the innocent", thats all very noble but hes not doing it for those reasons.
Why does he need to pick on games? Why not go after the news stations who show graphic images of war and violence? WHy not go after hollywood (i'd like to see him try) for making sick films...SAW anyone?
He was obviously bullied a great deal at school and now it makes him feel important because a couple of muppets agree with him so he's gone on the rampage.
Give it a rest thompson you knob jockey.
rrgh!
can't someone bury this idiot already?Weren't there laws...?
Weren't there laws being bandied about where accessing computer systems using false credentials was actually a criminal offence? Couldn't BestBuy point out that any customer using a credit card not theirs to buy a game they're not entitled to is opening themselves up to criminal charges?ah come on Spittles..you're drooling ;-)
Rant against this guy all you want he deserves it!But don't drag Saw down into the muck and mire with him! Saw isn't that bad at all! It's a well thought out. intriquing, suspense driven look at the lengths that people who would normally consider themselves decent people (regardless of the bad things they have done to end up on Saw's hit list) will go to when they are faced with their own mortality. And it IS afterall just make believe!
Something much more sinister, heinous, and outright disgusting is the lenghts that my US politicians will go to in the name of '911','terrorism' and 'keeping me safe'.
Now THAT'S sick, disgusting and should keep everyone up at night trying to figure out how to put an end to it. And as a side thought- these actions have WAY MORE impact on our youth and their future than video games OR a movie.
Hah
It sounds like Jack's on his way to another loss in court, if the judge doesn't throw it out. They use an FCC-sanctioned method of determining age. I doubt any judge would knock that down.I love it how Jack tries so hard to save the kiddies but always loses.
Credit Cards
Just want to point out that they sell pre-paid credit cards at Sprawl Mart that ANYONE can buy and use. So your average smartish teenager can simply waltz in, drop some cash on a pre-paid card, and then use it to buy m-rated games on the internet. Or anything else.Lots of kids have credit cards
In the USA, lots of children have credit cards. By lots, i mean millions.My daughter had her own card at age 12 way back in 1998.
She had it for emergencies and to start the learning process about how they worked.
Who is this Jack Thomson idiot anyway?
I have heard of him before, but I don't know what cards is he playing, or on what side is he anyway. I bet he's playing Manhunt like crazy :) . This reminded me of a movie (Porky 's I guess) when censors watched the pr0n movies and laughed loud and in the end they were exposed. Anyway, all of you are right about movies, they are more violent than games, but nobody picks up on them, the heads behind are waaayy bigger than Mr. Thomson, so frustrated enough, he picks on sombody smaller than him (or so he thinks). Gaming is not so bad (well sometimes is if you play for days without stopping - and die, WOW ).Liability if Customer breaks Law
So next in line will be all garages that sell cars, which are then driven above the speed limit.C'mon, buyers also have legal responsibilities.
I love this guy.
I really do love this guy. His sheer determination to win his false war on video games that he so believes in is amazing.Not like anyone with an ounce of sense listens to him anyway.
GET A LIFE!!!
JACK THOMPSON JUST GROW UP!!!