Attorneys representing the state of California and the video game industry have pled their case before the U.S. Supreme Court, in a case that will set a precedent for how video and computer games are sold. They’re arguing over the Constitutional validity of a law authored by state senator Leland Yee (D) and signed into law by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) – passed in 2005 but never enforced – that imposes stiff fines against retailers convicted of selling M-rated games to minors.

[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]The crux of the industry’s case lies on the interpretation of the First Amendment as protecting video games as free speech, a position that every federal circuit court that has heard such cases agrees with. The state of California argued that the ban was in the interest of children and parents alike, and that violent video games may possible induce minors to commit violent behavior in real life.

Justices challenge ban on video games [USA Today]