Entertainment Software Ass’n v. Blagojevich

Citation: Entertainment Software Ass’n v. Blagojevich, 404 F.Supp.2d 1051 (N.D. Ill. 2005)

Illinois enacted a statute that prohibited the sale or rental of “violent” games to minors, and required that violent games be labeled with a 2-inch by 2-inch white “18” outlined in black. The statute also prohibited the sale or rental of “sexually explicit” videogames to minors. The Entertainment Software Association and the Video Software Dealers Association filed suit claiming that the statute was unconstitutional. The statute was held to be unconstitutional by federal District Judge Matthew Kennelly, who permanently enjoined its enforcement on First Amendment grounds.