This report from GameDaily BIZ states that the Michigan violent games law has been stricken down as unconstitutional. There are some interesting statements in the report, including this one:

While certain politicians and anti-game activists have also suggested that games are far worse for children than other media because they offer interactive, not passive experiences, the district court once again shot down this notion. "...it could just as easily be said that the interactive element in video games acts as an outlet for minors to vent their violent or aggressive behavior, thereby diminishing the chance they would actually perform such acts in reality....Not only does the Act not materially advance the state's stated interest, but it appears to discriminate against a disfavored 'newcomer' in the world of entertainment media. […].

This reveals the grey area inherent in studies that are frequently used as evidence by both sides of the issue, which attempt to untangle the Gordian knot of how much cultural products reflect their contexts and how much they shape them. There are also overtones of fear of novel media in this attempt to legislate choice. This response seems to be fairly common, and indeed the novel itself was decried by contemporary critics as salacious and damaging to society. The more things change…