Violent Video Games - Obligations Arising From Particular Transactions - Civil Law - CA

Section § 1746

This section of the law defines key terms related to video games, particularly focusing on those considered violent. A 'minor' is anyone under 18. A 'person' could be an individual or any type of business entity. A 'video game' is an electronic entertainment device that you interact with. A 'violent video game' is defined by the type of violent actions it contains, such as killing or harming an image of a human, especially if it seems gruesome or cruel. It also describes such acts as needing to lack value for minors, be offensive to community standards, and appeal to harmful interests. In this context, words like 'cruel,' 'depraved,' and 'heinous' are further explained to assess if a game is excessively violent. Essentially, these terms help determine if a game crosses lines that make it inappropriate for minors.

For purposes of this title, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Minor” means any natural person who is under 18 years of age.

(b) “Person” means any natural person, partnership, firm, association, corporation, limited liability company, or other legal entity.

(c) “Video game” means any electronic amusement device that utilizes a computer, microprocessor, or similar electronic circuitry and its own monitor, or is designed to be used with a television set or a computer monitor, that interacts with the user of the device.

(d)

(1) “Violent video game” means a video game in which the range of options available to a player includes killing, maiming, dismembering, or sexually assaulting an image of a human being, if those acts are depicted in the game in a manner that does either of the following:

(A) Comes within all of the following descriptions:

(i) A reasonable person, considering the game as a whole, would find appeals to a deviant or morbid interest of minors.

(ii) It is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the community as to what is suitable for minors.

(iii) It causes the game, as a whole, to lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.

(B) Enables the player to virtually inflict serious injury upon images of human beings or characters with substantially human characteristics in a manner which is especially heinous, cruel, or depraved in that it involves torture or serious physical abuse to the victim.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, the following definitions apply:

(A) “Cruel” means that the player intends to virtually inflict a high degree of pain by torture or serious physical abuse of the victim in addition to killing the victim.

(B) “Depraved” means that the player relishes the virtual killing or shows indifference to the suffering of the victim, as evidenced by torture or serious physical abuse of the victim.

(C) “Heinous” means shockingly atrocious. For the killing depicted in a video game to be heinous, it must involve additional acts of torture or serious physical abuse of the victim as set apart from other killings.

(D) “Serious physical abuse” means a significant or considerable amount of injury or damage to the victim’s body which involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, substantial disfigurement, or substantial impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty. Serious physical abuse, unlike torture, does not require that the victim be conscious of the abuse at the time it is inflicted. However, the player must specifically intend the abuse apart from the killing.

(E) “Torture” includes mental as well as physical abuse of the victim. In either case, the virtual victim must be conscious of the abuse at the time it is inflicted; and the player must specifically intend to virtually inflict severe mental or physical pain or suffering upon the victim, apart from killing the victim.

(3) Pertinent factors in determining whether a killing depicted in a video game is especially heinous, cruel, or depraved include infliction of gratuitous violence upon the victim beyond that necessary to commit the killing, needless mutilation of the victim’s body, and helplessness of the victim.

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Section § 1746.1

This law makes it illegal to sell or rent violent video games to minors. However, if the seller or renter checked the buyer's ID and reasonably believed the buyer was not a minor, or if the game wasn't labeled correctly, they have a valid defense against any legal claims. The law does not apply if the minor's parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or legal guardian is the one buying or renting the game for them.

(a) A person may not sell or rent a video game that has been labeled as a violent video game to a minor.

(b) Proof that a defendant, or his or her employee or agent, demanded, was shown, and reasonably relied upon evidence that a purchaser or renter of a violent video game was not a minor or that the manufacturer failed to label a violent video game as required pursuant to Section 1746.2 shall be an affirmative defense to any action brought pursuant to this title. That evidence may include, but is not limited to, a driver’s license or an identification card issued to the purchaser or renter by a state or by the Armed Forces of the United States.

(c) This section shall not apply if the violent video game is sold or rented to a minor by the minor’s parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or legal guardian.

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Section § 1746.2

Any violent video game sold in California must have a clear label with a white '18' outlined in black. This label needs to be at least 2 inches by 2 inches and placed on the front of the game's package, indicating it's intended for adults only.

Each violent video game that is imported into or distributed in California for retail sale shall be labeled with a solid white “18” outlined in black. The “18” shall have dimensions of no less than 2 inches by 2 inches. The “18” shall be displayed on the front face of the video game package.

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Section § 1746.3

This law states that if someone breaks the rules in this particular section, they might have to pay up to $1,000. But if you're just a regular employee, like a salesclerk, who doesn't own or manage the business, you won't be held responsible for such violations.

Any person who violates any provision of this title shall be liable in an amount of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000), or a lesser amount as determined by the court. However, this liability shall not apply to any person who violates those provisions if he or she is employed solely in the capacity of a salesclerk or other, similar position and he or she does not have an ownership interest in the business in which the violation occurred and is not employed as a manager in that business.

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Section § 1746.4

If someone thinks a minor has been sold or rented a violent video game illegally, they can report it to legal authorities like a city attorney or district attorney. These officials have the power to take legal action against the violator.

A suspected violation of this title may be reported to a city attorney, county counsel, or district attorney by a parent, legal guardian, or other adult acting on behalf of a minor to whom a violent video game has been sold or rented. A violation of this title may be prosecuted by any city attorney, county counsel, or district attorney.

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Section § 1746.5

This law means that if one part of the rule is found to be invalid or doesn't work when applied, the rest of the rule can still be used. Other parts that are not affected can continue to be in effect.

The provisions of this title are severable. If any provision of this title or its application is held to be invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

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