Supreme Court Video Game Defender Honored With Free Speech Award

The lead counsel for the video game industry in the recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized games as protected free speech will be honored at an upcoming free speech fundraiser. Paul M. Smith presented oral arguments to the Justices last year, contributing to the Court's 7-2 decision in June. Smith will be recognized as a "Free Speech Defender" by the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) at a November 29 fundraiser in Lower Manhattan. NCAC is a coalition of over 50 national nonprofit organizations banded together to protect free speech. "The evening is an opportunity to celebrate the past year's victories in the defense of free expression and commend those who continue to stand up to censorship in its many forms," said NCAC executive director Joan Bertin. Smith's arguments to the court centered around the fallacy that some forms of violence (Star Wars, a World War II simulation) can be considered appropriate by lawmakers, while others (Grand Theft Auto) can not. Who’s to say, Smith asked, “that a video game about D-Day where everybody is being shot at constantly... would have value, but a game about car theft in L.A. doesn’t have value? "Is it because you can be an American soldier killing Nazis in the D-Day game but you’re a 'bad guy' in the Grand Theft Auto game? ... How do you decide which of those games has redeeming value?" More information on NCAC's event is available on its official website.