ESA Achieves Permanent Injunction Against Chicago Transit Game Ad Ban

The Entertainment Software Association has succeeded in its attempt to obtain a permanent injunction against a Chicago Transit Authority ordinance banning ads for Mature-rated video games on buses and trains. A preliminary injunction was granted this January in a U.S. District court, after the ESA filed suit. The new permanent injunction was revealed in a court decision (PDF document) made on May 17. The conflict between the ESA and the CTA dates back to 2008, when the CTA removed ads for Grand Theft Auto IV from its advertising spaces. A lawsuit filed by publisher Take-Two Interactive prompted the CTA to return the ads, but they were again removed after the transit authority passed an ordinance prohibiting any ad that "markets or identifies a video or computer game rated 'Mature 17+' (M) or 'Adults Only 18+' (AO)." That action prompted the ESA's own legal action, which has been ongoing in various phases for nearly a year, starting last July. "We are pleased that the CTA chose not to pursue this further and waste valuable resources on this matter," said ESA president Michael Gallagher, who expressed a hope other transit authorities will "heed this ruling when determining whether to restrict advertisements."