We hear a lot about the explicit language found in many video games but a new study by a Brigham Young University social sciences professor says that the level of strong language in many popular teen novels is substantially worse than what is found in most video games on the market. According to a new study by Brigham Young University social sciences professor Sarah Coyne, bestselling novel meant for teens are rife with cursing - they contain twice the rate of cursing of most video games. Read more

A 27-year-old Sarasota, Florida man has been arrested for allegedly being a complete loser. According to police, Heath Howe has been charged with child abuse for tying his 4-year-old girl up with rope so he could play video games.

The child (who was not identified because of her age) told police that she was tied up with rope and left in the kitchen on May 17 by Howe while he was playing video games. The little girl added that she did not think she was being punished because Howe didn't say anything to her while he was tying her up.

After having a few months to think about it and let things cool down, Protect IP Act (PIPA) co-sponsor Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) conceded that SOPA and PIPA "really did pose some risk to the Internet" and that the bills had parts in it that just went too far.

Last month the Australian Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Stephen Conroy announced that the government would investigate high game and technology prices in the country and this month the Australian government is calling for public submissions on the matter.
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U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-ORE.), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade Customs and Global Competitiveness, introduced legislation this week that would clarify the USTR’s obligation to share information on trade agreements with Members of Congress. Wyden, who spoke on the floor of the Senate about why this is necessary, has been a critic of the Administration’s handling of international treaties including ACTA and most recently the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP). Read more

Yesterday we reported that International Trade Commission (ITC) judge David Shaw recommended to the full ITC Commission that the import of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 slim models should be banned to the US, but patent expert Florian Mueller doesn't see it happening. Read more

If 38 Studios is forced to sell the IP related to Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and the MMO Project Copernicus (set in the same universe), one wonders how much both properties would be worth. Joystiq decided to ask Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter for a valuation and he came to the conclusion that 38 Studios' IP is worth about $20 million.