 | |
| |
TechnologyDaily Mobile
Michigan Videogame Restrictions Delayed
by Chloe Albanesius
A federal judge on Wednesday delayed implementation of a Michigan law to ban the sale of violent or sexually explicit videogames to minors.
Judge George Caram Steeh ruled that the law "will likely have a chilling effect on adults' expression, as well as expression that is fully protected as to minors." Steeh surmised that imposing criminal penalties could result in "self-censoring by game creators, distributors and retailers, including ultimately pulling [more explicit] games off store shelves altogether."
Gov. Jennifer Granholm signed the bill into law in September. Under the act, people such as a video-game store manager who knowingly distribute violent or sexually explicit videogames to minors could be fined up to $5,000 for first offenses, $15,000 for the second and $40,000 for the third strike.
The law does not cover parents, family members or friends showing or viewing such games at home. Should someone pretend to be a minor's parent or guardian or try to pose a minor as an adult, they will face up to 93 days in jail and a $15,000 fine. Business owners who show or sell games to children face jail time and $25,000 fines.
The day after the bill became law, the Entertainment Software Association filed suit for a violation of First Amendments rights. The group's president, Doug Lowenstein, said in a statement that he is "gratified" by Steeh's action. The ruling suggests that evidence from Granholm and the legislature pointing to the ill effects of videogame content "are weak and unpersuasive," he said.
Similar laws were struck down in Washington state last year, in St. Louis County, Mo., in 2003, and in Indianapolis in 2001. A recently enacted Illinois law is being challenged in the court.
La. Special Session To Cover Tech Topics
The Louisiana legislature reconvened Sunday for a special session intended to deal with hurricane recovery efforts.
Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a Democrat, released a list of 77 items lawmakers can address during the 16-day session. They include granting the public electronic access to information on disaster-recovery funding and contracting, penalties on convicted sex offenders for failing to register with the state after their release, and bills dealing with the Louisiana Geographic Information System.
The session "marks an important step on the road to recovery," Blanco said in a speech to legislators. "Mine is a balanced approach -- a business approach designed to provide citizens with a basic level of vital services in these extraordinary times."
Maine Eyes Doubling Of R&D Activity
Maine is looking to double its research and development activity per year by 2010, to $1 billion, according a science and technology action plan.
The state's economy has long relied on natural resources but now must develop the tools, incentives and infrastructure to support an innovation-based economy, according to the report from the Economic and Community Development Department and Maine Office of Innovation.
Researchers acknowledge that the goal is "ambitious" and that "there remain critical elements that are beyond the scope of this plan." That includes a high-speed and wireless Internet infrastructure, something Gov. John Baldacci had identified as a top priority. Report authors pledged to work with Baldacci and others "so that these overriding issues will be addressed."
The report's five-point plan calls on stakeholders in the research community to inform lawmakers of the importance of R&D so that by 2010 it becomes an integral part of the governor's and legislature's budget and bond proposals. The Office of Innovation will hold R&D informational day seminars for legislators beginning in the spring and is looking to include R&D day as part of the fall 2006 lawmaker orientation.
The plan also is looking to draw at least eight new research-intensive businesses to Maine in the next five years. By 2007, Maine will create a business and development fund for R&D to be implemented and will provide information on the state's efforts to industry trade groups and national conferences, the report said.
The effort likely will be an uphill battle, as Maine currently ranks 50th in university research, 50th in science and engineering graduates, and 40th in patent production. State investment alone, therefore, will not be sufficient, and collaborations between the public and private sectors are crucial, the report said.
In other R&D news, the University of Iowa last month announced an economic development initiative called Iowa Centers for Enterprise, Business and Commercialization Services. The Grow Iowa Values Fund allocated $5 million for the effort, which will provide financial backing to startup companies in the state.
The center is a collaborative effort that includes the Oakdale Research Park, Office of Corporate Relations, John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Small Business Development Center, Technology Innovation Center and University of Iowa Research Foundation.
Energy Program Awards Tech Grants
A test program sponsored by the Energy Department has awarded grants to 11 local groups whose projects intend to use technology to improve energy efficiency.
The State Technologies Advancement Collaborative is a five-year pilot whose members include state, federal and independent energy officials. Of the 61 proposals submitted this summer, the collaborative narrowed it to 11 teams representing 23 states.
Among those initiatives is a national database on energy-efficiency policies and incentives. The five-member team, which will be led by North Carolina State University, received $538,500 for a three-year project that will expand the existing Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy to include financial incentives and regulatory policies from the local and federal levels.
Other participants include the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Texas State Energy Conservation Office and Washington State University.
Another project, led by Advanced Energy, received about $1.9 million to study and promote the use of hybrid electric school buses.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, meanwhile, received $1.4 million for a 22-month project to demonstrate the use of hydraulic, regenerative braking technology.
NEW FEATURE
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
