John "Jack" Thompson after Online Games, Will He Go after Furcadia? Options

[Kiyotome]

Recently, I have heard rumors that John Thompson will be going after online games again. Sort of like 'World Of Warcraft', 'Guild Wars', 'Sims Online'. There is some word that there may be some less known games that promote 'online sex' and violence. I'm hoping that Furcadia will not be a part of this. But, if so, I want to be reassured that your attorneys are able to combat Jack Thompson, and if not, I may be able to help.

[Xxysthstris]

A four-year-old with a stick could combat Jack Johnson in legal matters. Let alone the poor suckers that have to put up with his incessant whinging and whining about what is or what is not of moral fibre in this world.
(I wonder if he'd appreciate a complimentary set of boxers with nekkid furries imprinted on the front?)

Heck: a four-year-old with a stick could outpower his perceptions on philosophy behind games, or the workings of the world as the child is untained by media coverage and personal desires relating to life (barring candy, toys and which of their schoolmates has the best lunch to swap with).

All of that and the man's good to laugh at. While all the well knowing that, in comparison, we are god-like in nature.

[Youlanda]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Thompson_(attorney)

After an initial foray into politics, Thompson concentrated his efforts on activism against obscenity, particularly obscenity in rap music and broadcasts by shock jock Howard Stern. More recently, he has focused on violence as well, particularly in the content of computer and video games and their alleged effects on children.

He's not unlike Fred Phelps it seems. He's a real life troll, just ignore him. I'm sure that the Furcadia leagaleese is strong enough to give the proverbial finger to his whining.

Some amusing things from this article where his trolling attempts have been thwarted.

Thompson filed a lawsuit on behalf of the parents of three children killed in a Paducah, Kentucky school shooting in 1997. Investigations showed that the perpetrator, 14-year-old Michael Carneal, had regularly played various computer games (including Doom, Quake, Castle Wolfenstein, Redneck Rampage, Nightmare Creatures, Mech Warrior, Resident Evil, and Final Fantasy) and accessed some pornographic websites. Carneal had also owned a videotape of The Basketball Diaries, which includes a high school student dreaming about killing his teacher and some classmates. The suit sought $33 million in damages, alleging that the producers of the games, the movie, and the operators of the internet sites were negligent in distributing this material to a minor because it would desensitize him and make him more prone to violence.

...

The suit was filed in federal district court and was dismissed for failing to present a legally recognizable claim. The court concluded that Carneal's actions were not reasonably foreseeable by the defendants and that in any case, his actions superseded those of the defendants, so that the latter could not be the proximate cause of the harm. In addition, the judge determined that "thoughts, ideas and images" in the defendants' materials did not constitute "products" that could be considered defective[32]. The ruling was upheld on appeal.[34]

Thompson was involved another similar suit in Alabama in 2005 on behalf of the families of police personnel killed by Devin Moore, a teenager who was reportedly a compulsive Grand Theft Auto player. However, his participation in the case ran into a dispute over his pro hac vice admission to practice law in that state. The opposing attorneys sought removal of this privilege by arguing that his conduct was unethical and claiming he had threatened and harassed them in letters and emails.[41] The judge added that Thompson had violated his gag order during Moore's criminal trial. Thompson tried to withdraw from the case, but his request was denied by the judge, who went ahead and revoked Thompson's temporary admission to the state bar.

Thompson lobbied Alabama attorney general Troy King to file a civil suit and call on retailers not to sell "cop-killing games."[4] After the slaying of another police officer in Gassville, Arkansas by Jacob D. Robida, an 18-year-old fugitive, Thompson again raised the possibility of a connection to Grand Theft Auto, but investigators found no evidence that video games were involved.[45]

And... Webcomics making fun of him:
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20050808
http://www.ctrlaltdel-online.com/comic.php?d=20051012 (Contains F word.)
http://www.gucomics.com/archives/view.php?cdate=20050816
http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=158

I loled.

[Kamose]

Before you can win a lawsuit, you have to have a legal claim. I'm not sure what the cause of action would be in this case. If anyone knows, please post.

[Finrod]

TRaditional idiot logic... or as the religious right would go: "This game promotes... furriness. Furriness. Humans.. behaving as animals... In fursuits noless! This is despicable! And an abominaton of God!" Suchtruck suchforth on and on... He'll lose.. again. Theres always going to be some religious crusader trying to use the law to his advantage, sometimes they win, and sometimes they lose... The latter is more often the case, or we would hope so atleast.

[Xxysthstris]

Before you can win a lawsuit, you have to have a legal claim. I'm not sure what the cause of action would be in this case. If anyone knows, please post.

Yiffing.
It's a lawsuit against yiffing.

And roleplaying.
Yiffing and roleplaying.

And using the internet.
Yiffing, roleplay and using the internet.

And talking to strangers.
Yiffing, roleplaying, using the internet and talking to strangers.

And reading. Yes, reading is naughty. *spank*
Yiffing, roleplaying, using the internet, talking to strangers and reading.

And using a computer. "Metal Satan" as some call it..
Yiffing, roleplaying, using the internet, talking to strangers, reading and communicating to others through Metal Satan.

And diddling your keyboard and mouse.
Yiffing, roleplaying, using the internet, talking to strangers, reading, communicating through Metal Satan and gaining 'dirty time' experience by err.. 'diddling' out sentences on your keyboard and 'touching' the buttons on your mouse (and stroking the mouse wheel!).

Y'know, I bet we could start a thread titled, [i]"Stupid reasons why John is right -- Closing down Furcadia", and come up with infinite reasons that pertain to his way of thinking. =)

[Kamose]

Xxysthstris, but none of those is a legal claim. I want to know the cause of action (e.g., defamation, battery, breach of contract, etc.).

[Xxysthstris]

Oh come on, lemme have my fun. =P

[sanctimonious]

Probably the most effective way to sue us would be saying that we're commies, since the game is free. Historically speaking that's been enough for a legal claim ;)

But, since the game is free, I wouldn't worry about him suing us. There's not enough money to be made, compared to, say, iD Software, or Blizzard.

-s!-

[Ferentix]

Not really communist, since there are things you can pay for in the game to set yourself apart (which I *think* is against the communist ideals) ;P

This clown has been discussed many a time at various forums I visit- usually ones for more violent games, like Doom I must say, I never thought I'd see him rear his ugly, illogical head around here. Mind, I doubt he really will, because whilst Furcadia is pretty big, in terms of player numbers, it's still relatively obscure, especially when compared to things like the WoW juggernaut, with "big name" companies behind them.

Anyway, he's always good for a laugh, and a general "Jeez, how can anyone be so... stupid? Persistent?". Has anyone seen some of the e-mail conversations he's had with people who disagree? The way to conduct a mature and adult debate is *not* to repeatedly insult the other person, and do the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling "NOT LISTENING! NO! YOU'RE WRONG!". You'd think a supposed lawyer would be able to debate properly, no?

Ah well, he seems pretty harmless in the end. Mind, has he actually won any of his videogame related cases? I'm not actually sure.

[Kiyotome]

Needless to say I was suprised about the response this got. I just wished to have a word of reassurence from the Dragons Eye that Furcadia legal can handle the likes of Jack.

Some of you mentioned how impossibly stupid he is. Well, thats the problem, his blind fury may lead him to the most played 'free' to use online game on the net. We might find ourself faceing down Jack as he attempts to sue Dragons Eye for haveing a game with 'unrestricted' adult access. After all, he went after EA because on "The Sims" you could imput an incredibly long code to get Barbie doll grade nudity.

Now, if he does gun down furc. Myself and I know others will jump in to help. And hopefully Jack Thompson still hates me enough to let this go.

Well, thank you all for the response and I'm sure Dragons Eye is glade for your support.

[Xxysthstris]

Now, if he does gun down furc. Myself and I know others will jump in to help. And hopefully Jack Thompson still hates me enough to let this go.

John Thompson won't be able to gun down DEP or Furcadia as the lawsuit would be directly targetting the freedom of expression, which would inturn target the US constitution. And, most evidently: would target his right to practice and file lawsuits against things due to his or another's individual expression and interpretation of how life should be lived.

DEP has absolutely nothing to worry about as wat DEP promotes through passive means is the right to personal freedoms in expression (barring their terms regarding darker things that may filter about Furcadia such as the distribution of adult materials, malicious hacking/cracking, paedophillia, etc,.)

Huge snowball effect that would inevitably end his life as a two-bit lawyer.

[Vlin]

http://www.little-gamers.com/index.php?comicID=1267 <~ My favorite Jack Thompson quote.

[Liko'rial]

It's cool. I'm an internet lawyer. I'll handle it.
Also there's a lot of stupidity in this thread.

Sued on the internet? Pirating MP3's? Caught HACKING TEH GIBSON?

The internet law offices of Liko, Vismund, & Den (Fa)* can help. We'll fight for your rights to "free speach on teh internets" anyday and to generally be an incredible bastard. Stop by our offices in Imaginarium. Free consultation, come see if you have a case.


*NOT ACCREDITED BY ANY BAR ASSOCIATION KNOWN TO MAN. UNLESS YOU COUNT VISMUND'S MOM WHO WAS SO NICE AND TOLD US WE ALL HAD POTENTIAL AND SOMEDAY WE COULD BE REALLY FAMOUS AND WE WERE SUCH GOOD ARGUERS. SHE ALSO MADE US SOME COOKIES AND THEY WERE DELICIOUS.

[Kiyotome]

DEP has absolutely nothing to worry about as wat DEP promotes through passive means is the right to personal freedoms in expression (barring their terms regarding darker things that may filter about Furcadia such as the distribution of adult materials, malicious hacking/cracking, paedophillia, etc,.)

[/font]

Needless to say, John Thompson has never needed a viable reason to actually go after anyone. He once attempted to sue an individual who created a nude patch for Lara Croft. Of course Wikipedia happened to have forgotten that. And yes, this was during his "Games are sexest and violent! SEE! Lara is hot, shes a girl, and shes running around in short shorts with .45's." phase...



Now, Furcadia has several problems going for it that would make an easy case against themselves.

(1) They allow users to create, modify, and distribute modifications freely.

(2) There is little control access to more adult area's (ex: Furrabian Nights).

(3) Parents have no control on the game since a child can download it with in 10 minutes and hide it.

(4) PED is forming its own online in-game currency allowing users to sell art and other objects, gamble, perform hitman jobs, and create a forum for prostituition (including amongst minors)



[font="Times"]But, from what I understand the threat has passed only because hes going after Blizzard because of WoW.

[Emerald Flame]

[/font]


[font="Times"]Now, Furcadia has several problems going for it that would make an easy case against themselves.

(1) They allow users to create, modify, and distribute modifications freely.

(2) There is little control access to more adult area's (ex: Furrabian Nights).

(3) Parents have no control on the game since a child can download it with in 10 minutes and hide it.

(4) PED is forming its own online in-game currency allowing users to sell art and other objects, gamble, perform hitman jobs, and create a forum for prostituition (including amongst minors)

I did write you a PM, Kyotome, and we do really appreciate your concern. Yes, Furcadia does some things that most online games would not do because their lawyers would be too picky. We are an indipendant game company, which means we don't have a big corperation funding us and telling us how to run our game. We've chosen to stay that way. If there's a problem we will deal with it when it comes up. They can't get any money out of us as we don't have any and we aren't big enough to make an example of. We are not naive though and we do have lawyers check over our business decisions. Furcadia is 10 years old this year and still growing and improving.

You mentioned us allowing user created content and allowing modifications. This is no different than many webpage hosts. Think of a dream as your personal webpage. We are actulaly more likely to get in trouble for our volunteer program. Most games won't touch a volunteer program.

As for parental control and the new DragonScales, we had lawyers look at all of that before we put it in and we've made some changes according to their advice. You should read the new Privacy Policy on the furc front page and look at some of the threads on these issues. Not all of those changes will be popular with our players, but we had to make them to protect the children who play, the adults who play and the game itself.

[Kamose]

LOL, Liko'rial. But you know that you can't set foot in any court room as a lawyer without being licensed in the forum state. (This means that you have to pass the state's bar exam.)

[Liko'rial]

Hence the (not so) fine print.

I was just making fun of the kind of silly legal pseudoknowledge being flung back and forth in this thread.

[Kamose]

Hence the (not so) fine print.

I was just making fun of the kind of silly legal pseudoknowledge being flung back and forth in this thread.

I know that it was a joke -- hence the LOL -- but you don't want people coming to you for legal advice.