Following up on a court case I mentioned in a previous article a federal appeals court has killed off a $33 million against a number of major gaming entertainment companies. The families of some of the victims, which included three dead and five wounded, had been seeking compensation in relation to a 1997 high school shooting in Kentucky, USA.

The 14 year old killer had been a gamer, and in the climate of the time, companies such as id, (?) and had been hauled into the courts to answer charges that their products had had a detrimental effect on the mind of the young shooter. An April ruling had judged that the companies couldn't have known someone would commit such a crime after playing their games, and now the appeal court has upheld the earlier ruling, stating into the bargain that the companies are protected by First Amendment rights on free speech.

Richard Clay, a Louisville lawyer representing defendant id Software, the maker of the Quake, and Castle games, hailed the ruling. "The First Amendment protects freedom of expression, and that is precisely what we have here," he said.

I'm think of making a claim against Sid Meir myself, as I can't find a special lady friend and I blame that on the pallor of my skin which I picked up during my years of Civilisation addiction.

By Jason Cartwright