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Report: Judge OKs Bully

[UPDATE] Jack Thompson's attempt to keep Take-Two from shipping out its controversial game apparently thwarted; attorney compares decision to Iran nuclear crisis.

Earlier this week, Florida lawyer Jack Thompson heralded "a historic ruling" to members of the press in a complaint he filed against Take-Two Interactive over its upcoming game Bully. Judge Ronald Friedman ordered Take-Two to provide a copy of the game so that he could review it behind closed doors on Thursday and see what all the fuss was about himself.

"It appears that finally the violent video game industry is going to be held accountable to someone," Thompson wrote in his Wednesday announcement.

However, things didn't go Thompson hoped. This morning, gaming site Destructoid reported that the judge ruled on the matter, saying he didn't see anything that should prevent Take-Two from shipping Bully.

"There's nothing in the game that you wouldn't see on TV every night," Friedman is quoted as saying. The judge added he wouldn't want his kids to play the game, "but that shouldn't mean that the game won't ship."

[UPDATE] Later, in an open letter to Friedman that was circulated to various game-press outlets, Thompson decried the decision using typically fiery language. "What you conducted in your chambers, Judge, was the equivalent of Iran leading UN weapons inspectors around the country taking them to places where the illegal activity was not occurring," he said.

Thompson also had some strong words for the judge himself. "Now that you have consigned innumerable children to skull fractures, eye injuries from slingshots, and beatings with baseball bats, without a hearing as to the danger, let me tell you a few things, with all respect for your office and with no respect for the arbitrary way in which you handled this matter," he wrote. "The way you conducted yourself today helps explain why a great Dade County Judge, the late Rhea Pincus Grossman, could not abide you."

The letter went on to:

a) Accuse Take-Two lawyer Rebecca Ward of "lying in [Friedman's] courtroom when she told [Friedman] that a 'Teen' rating is an age restriction at the point of sale." Indeed, such ESRB ratings are only enforced voluntarily by retail outlets.

b) Blast Friedman for "not allow[ing] a hearing to occur because the media there would have seen how you railroaded this entire matter--at the expense of children's safety." Specifically, Thompson made mention of a Miami Herald reporter in attendance.

In conclusion, Thompson said, "How dare you, Judge, promise a hearing today and then prevent that hearing from occurring. How dare you, Judge, petulantly order the production of the game after it is released on Tuesday morning. I didn't even ask for that. You did that out of spite, and you were smiling when you did that. You really enjoyed that one, didn't you, Judge? Next time you promise a 'hearing,' I'll bring a parent with me whose kid is in the ground because of a kid who trained to kill him or her on a violent video game. Try mocking that person, I dare you."

The letter can be read in its entirety on Kotaku and Game Politics. Bully ships on October 17 for the PlayStation 2; an Xbox version was canceled earlier this year.

1094 Comments

  • MrMorozov

    Posted Feb 28, 2010 8:11 pm GMT

    Yes, because playing a T-rated game is totally comparable to weapons that could end mankind. Just shut the **** up already! You're just embarrassing yourself anyway...

  • Ergo_Proxy656

    Posted Sep 25, 2008 3:14 pm GMT

    @dupe576

    Actually, he does have a son, sorry to kill that for you. ._.
    But despite that, yes, he does make you want to punch him once... Notice how, every time something doesn't go according to (a very improbable and not very well thought-out) plan, he blames just about everyone?

  • dupe576

    Posted May 20, 2007 8:14 pm GMT

    wow.. i dont think i've ever wanted to punch someone in the face so much.. this guy is just such a douche.. he doesn't even have kids and obviously never will.. so why does he care about it so much more than people who actually are capable of procreating? On the bright side.. its kinda funny to see what a joke this guy is.. even the judge can't take him seriously.. i mean.. i just read this guys wikipedia article.. did he ever win a case? It looks like he gets laughed out of every courtroom he steps in

  • allhailthetv

    Posted Mar 30, 2007 12:43 pm GMT

    What a moron. He accuses all these games of being able to start violence, but has he ever played any of these games? No! Also, he promised to donate 10,000 to an orphanage (read this on wikipedia) if a game fulfilling certain requirements was made, and even declared that it was genuine on national television! A while later, the conditions are met, but ol' Jack declares that the offer wasn't real! The guys who make Penny Arcade donated the money, with a note attached saying "For Jack Thompson, Because Jack Thompson Won't." After this happens, our favorite Miami lawyer threatens to sue for extortion! If he were a dog, he'd be butt-ugly, and would be put down immediately because of his inability to make a valid point.

  • Spawny2k

    Posted Jan 28, 2007 6:39 am GMT

    hahaha i cant wait for the day that Jack Thompson gets hit a car accused of grand theft auto!

  • cheeseman777

    Posted Jan 10, 2007 4:51 pm GMT

    whats funny is that hes never even played most of these games and probably never will. Maybe if he actually played bully he'd see that it wasnt so bad.

  • Sandro909

    Posted Dec 29, 2006 12:03 pm GMT

    I'd like to see Rockstar make the main character of GTA IV named Jack Thompson just to piss him off.

  • zooloo75

    Posted Dec 21, 2006 5:05 am GMT

    You know what I never heard or seen a report about JT ever complimenting about anything...wait tell me is he an old pissed off lawer who cant stand a rated T game???
    I've seen far bloody and far more violent like Resident Evil....or Area 51 and a whole bunch of shooters...
    Some day theres gonna be a riot in a city...or village that JT lives in and then he's probably gonna sue everyone in the city...or village that he lives in , just because he never learned how to fight like a real man....
    I bet if he got in a fight with a 5 year old kid he'd get his nutts blown out by a soft fist...
    Me I would just tackle him and knocks some teeth out of his mouth while he's lying on the floor sobbing his ass off then I would STOMP his ass! and then just walk away...Then when a teacher asks what happened and all that other BS I'll just say "Hey I was fighting in self defense"
    poor JT....I really dont feel sorry for him....

  • Billymackdaddym

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 2:30 pm GMT

    I went to wikipedia and found out Jackieboy has a big history of complaining...and they had to make an agreement on the radio to stop "harassing" him! He is such a baby! If you're gonna be a jerk, then deal with the results. He even filed charges against Janet Reno for touching him under "battery"! Then he calls her a lesbian to make her look bad after she said she liked manly men, which is why she'd never like him! This guy makes me violent, not the freaking videogames and music he gets rid of! I'm sorry, I forgot, he's a FAILURE! What I should have said was the videogames and music he TRIES to get rid of. What's next? The Little Mermaid is showing too much skin? "And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what grinds my gears." haha. I will hunt him down if he ever goes after family guy! Anyways, no more complaining. I'm starting to sound like Jack himself! :OOOOO

  • Billymackdaddym

    Posted Nov 1, 2006 2:21 pm GMT

    Jack, you moron. When children get the game, someone has to buy it for them (I'd assume parents or older *responsible* siblings), they don't just hand them out. What I mean is, if children get violent from the game (which seems pretty stupid), then blame it on the people who got it for them, not te company. As a matter of fact, why don't you sue every parent alive who buys this game!? That sounds like a genius move that you'd make! What a d1ckhead. And look at how he whined when he lost. He's like a four year old. He has to let everyone know "It's not fair! It's not fair! That judge is stupid! He cheated!" by telling reporters and eventually even the judge! Wish I could see the hate mail come in by the truck-full after all this (does any one send hate mail anymore, or is it all email? In that case, someone send him a virus!). Why is he even famous? Because he likes to complain?

  • nirvana_2

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 3:32 pm GMT

    jackass thompson, u did it again!

  • Snake-Drinker

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 10:19 am GMT

    You've got to commend Thompson for his tenacity anyway. lol

  • solsticeblue

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 7:01 pm GMT

    I wouldn't be suprised if Thompson is completely oblivious as to how he's making a fool of himself in others' eyes and how he's digging his own hole.

    Ladies and gentelemen, I present to you...

    The most out-of-touch man in the world!

  • Captivator

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 1:17 pm GMT

    This just in: OFFICIAL - Anti-gaming "lawyer" fails at life.

    Jack, just... just STOP. Right feckin' NOW. All you're doing is making yourself look ridiculous and pumping up the sales of whatEVER the hell it is you spit you dum-- sorry, pacifier out about next. 2 Live Crew ring a bell?

    You, dear boy, have been pwned. Now bend over and take it like a man.

  • anamnawshad

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 7:24 am GMT

    Thompson is sick!

  • bigcrusha

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 3:35 am GMT

    Good decision judge!! DOWN WITH THOMPSON!!!!!!

  • GHOSTRyDr

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 2:35 am GMT

    This guy is a nut.....

  • helluvagood

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 5:45 pm GMT

    jack thompson is indeed a poo poo head

  • helluvagood

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 5:45 pm GMT

    Go judge go

  • JT_MCCRACKEN

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 4:24 pm GMT

    Jack Thompson is a poo-poo head

  • Diamondbarrow

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 3:25 pm GMT

    This is the only time I have ever been forced to stretch in order to defend my belief in the first amendment. Jack Thompson should be shot. Repeatedly.

  • Jammet

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 3:02 pm GMT

    *Plays a sad tiny piano tune alongside*

  • GreyFoxV1

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 1:49 pm GMT

    *Plays a violin*

  • GCN49

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 1:39 pm GMT

    i agree with Judge Friedman wholeheartedly... if I lived in Florida and he was up for reelection for the courts, I would vote for him...

  • cfamgcn

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 1:24 pm GMT

    Boo... Thompson will never win these cases... it would be better if he gets another job lol

  • bloodychimp

    Posted Oct 23, 2006 12:07 pm GMT

    there are about 100 million of us, and less than 5000 people who think like him. he is doomed to fail and its hilarious.

  • Jayson619

    Posted Oct 22, 2006 1:58 pm GMT

    One request Jack: PLEASE DIE!

    BULLY - 1
    JACK - 0

  • SpawnShadow

    Posted Oct 21, 2006 4:29 pm GMT

    *slaps forehead*

    Jack, just give up. You haven't won against video games, you didn't win against Bully, and you'll never win against us gamers (or as you dubbed us, "pixelantes"). Give up before it's too late.

  • Kirfalas

    Posted Oct 20, 2006 12:29 pm GMT

    I still don't see how you can train yourself with a shooter. I have payed enough shooters in my life, but I wouldn't know how to handle a gun because of that. A game like Duckhunt, now that would be something else

  • personguy

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 4:09 pm GMT

    Jack thompson Now attacking bully which Is surely a good thing to attack on video game violence issue right?......anyone....... I thought not.

    Its seems that he wants to destroy every bit of fun in a video game doesn't it?

    If I am a normal, finely raised non psychopathic human being I shall not be driven by video game violence to commit violent acts.

    Jack please learn how to be a lawyer, its more than big words its finding out ways to support yourself. And NOT TAKING A CASE THAT CAN HAVE 300 DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN BE USED AGAINST YOU!
    1.See above (normal,non-psychopath= No Killing from games YAY)

  • dabigl0001

    Posted Oct 19, 2006 1:25 pm GMT

    Yeah eat that Jack Thompson!

  • yurg56

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 5:42 pm GMT

    Thanks for the free publicity douchebag!

  • choto8

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 11:19 am GMT

    i cant wait to see how bad this lil ho whines when GTA4 comes out. see how he didnt have a word to say when Saints Row or Scarface came out?

    what a f*cking b*tch

  • DeadManRollin

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 10:30 am GMT

    lol..silly judge

  • audioust

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 10:13 am GMT

    Lawl, Thompson is funny. Someone buy him a clown suit, and a big red nose.

  • Hades_30

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:58 am GMT

    I just picked up Bully and I'll be playing all night. My child will likely never see this game in my house, nor any others like it, but that's MY decision, not some lawyers. Thanks, Judge!

  • jay005

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:54 am GMT

    You know JT is the biggiest loser in the entire world, he just can't win anywhere. Check his back history on wikipedia.org you will see just how bad his track record is. He is 0-forever againist take2 / rockstar plus other video games companies, hell before that he went up againist the music biz taking on 2 live crew and N.W.A. making them one of the greatest rap group of all times in the early 90's. So from the bottom of tree frog ass, I and friends thank you for placing your name and attention on such "would be" great titles. Remember with out you, there are no great games to be played.

  • hellrazor06

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 9:08 am GMT

    i bet the 17th was a dark dark day for ol jack

  • Necroplis

    Posted Oct 18, 2006 2:29 am GMT

    well we did it!

    bully's out now i have to hold out for canis canem edit

  • DesmondPills

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 4:09 pm GMT

    ha, yes the judge ruling in favor of the game Bully is comparable to Iran leading UN weapons inspectors to inaccurate weapons sites. lol, how is this guy a professional at anything other than being an arse? seriously, just reread that comparison a few times, it gets funnier each time.

  • greystone227

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 2:54 pm GMT

    You can always rely on Jack Thompson to make a total fool of himself. I've never really been a GTA fan, and I don't play my PS2 anymore, so I won't buy this game, but I've read a lot about it. Rockstar had been adding features in the game to reduce violence the whole time during production, such as limiting the amount of times weapons can be used before they break, and the use of prefects to stop people from beating random students. And here came Jack Thompson to try to ban the game before he even saw so much as a demo. He's sure gonna look like a total jack*** now that the game is out. If you look at IGN's review, it even says that there isn't really that much viiolence in the game, save some fist fights. I've never believed that video games caused violence. I've played numerous FPS's and other violent games ever since I can remember, and I have no desire to harm anyone to any degree. Like someone else said, if someone walks away from a video game and wants to kill someone, somethings wrong with the kid, not the game. Anyone old enough to play a video game is old enough to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

  • Sam_Lowery

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 12:46 pm GMT

    I hope this game makes more money than GTA.

  • Senrir

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 12:32 pm GMT

    One word ... 'lol' .. or maybe 3 words xD

  • BioHzrdSco

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 11:42 am GMT

    I'll bring a parent with me whose kid is in the ground because of a kid who trained to kill him or her on a violent video game. Try mocking that person, I dare you."

    Video Games train you to kill people......Damn i better buy this one as theres a few people on my list id like to take out....

  • zux2000

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 10:47 am GMT

    is this game a "bloody game" ? i guess not?

  • bobtheflounder

    Posted Oct 17, 2006 10:42 am GMT

    There should definitely be a Jack Thompson-like character in the next GTA game just so that gamers everywhere can practice killing him since that's what we're doing when we play games anyway. Why practice killing random people when we can practice on people that we actually would like to see hurt. Seriously, Jack is quite possibly the most narrow-minded and naive person I have ever seen in my life. He acts like a child and is incapable of making a coherent argument about anything, ever. I feel kind of bad for him because of how people treat him...until he opens his mouth and reveals that he is a douchebag.

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