Report: Take Two Files Preemptive Suit Against Jack Thompson

According to a report from gaming legislation news site GamePolitics, anti-game lawyer Jack Thompson has himself become the subject of a lawsuit by publisher Take Two, in an effort to block Thompson from trying to declare the upcoming games Grand Theft Auto 4 and Manhunt 2 as a public nuisance under Florida law. According to the report, Thompson recently threatened to keep the upcoming games from being sold in Florida, and the move by Take Two represents a preemptive strike to prevent this from occurring, alleging that the lawyer's actions violate the publisher's First Amendment rights. Take Two is also seeking to recover any legal fees resulting from the litigation. “Thompson has a history of making multiple threats of legal action, whether substantiated or not, both against (Take Two) as well as the retailers who purchase the video games and offer them for sale to the public. Thompson has made such threats again in connection with Manhunt 2 and GTA IV...,” wrote Take Two in a statement. Thompson tried a similar tactic with Take Two's Bully, although a later hearing on the possible banning of the game resulted in Miami-Dade County judge Ronald Friedman handing down a decision that Bully would be allowed to be sold, explaining that the controversial title did not feature gameplay or content that warranted it from being banned from sale. Interestingly, although not entirely unexpected, Thompson has replied to Take Two's complaint, taking credit for being the catalyst behind the recently reported impending stockholder coup at Take Two by “exposing the fraud and criminal conduct of Take-Two on the national stage.”