New York's case that Steam lootboxes are "gambling" is a free speech violation that "will have an impermissible chilling effect on protected videogame design", argue Valve
Valve moves to dismiss a New York AG lawsuit, arguing lootboxes are not gambling and that criminalizing them violates free speech.Summary
Valve has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the New York Attorney General, which accuses the company of facilitating illegal gambling through Steam lootboxes. In a 42-page memo, Valve's lawyers argue that lootboxes, which they refer to as "mystery boxes," cannot be legally defined as gambling because they are purchased with virtual currency that has no "real" value and are not exchangeable for cash. They also contend that the lawsuit is an attack on free speech, claiming that skins are "purely aesthetic creations" and that criminalizing lootboxes would "chill the development of skins" and discourage artists from creating desirable designs. The memo cites legal precedents, including a court battle involving Epic, to support the argument that monetization strategies like lootboxes are "properly considered video game content" protected under the First Amendment. The authors conclude that criminalizing lootboxes would have an "impermissible chilling effect on protected videogame design."
(Source：Google News)