Quote:
Originally Posted by kapol
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by The Escapist
If California wins the case, similar laws are certain to spring up in other states, and the chilling effect on the development of videogames for adults could be profound. In order to avoid huge liability, major game retailers, such as GameStop and Walmart, would have to restructure their entire business model to ensure minors are not sold games. These businesses may decide that it is more cost effective to not stock or sell these games all together! In addition, businesses with an online distribution model are even less able to ensure the purchaser of the game is not a minor. They might be required to geo-target any state with such a law to forbid any mature games being sold there as the only way to avoid liability under this bill.
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What utter, unmitigated bullshit. Gamestop and Wal-Mart ALREADY check IDs for M rated titles. Online businesses need to determine where a purchaser is because they need to deal with taxation. An online store must collect local sales tax on any purchase made within a state where they have a physical presence. Even if credit cards weren't the obvious method for age verification, there's too much money on the table to just give up the sales. Other solutions will be presented. When the Communications Decency Act was passed, companies like Adult Check took up the verification slack. Then that law was (thankfully) overturned.