CLEVELAND (WJW) — Bugs come in all shapes and sizes, but a Cuyahoga County mother said they all have the same negative effect on her son.
Now Sonia Foster is suing multiple software companies for what her lawyers call “intentional video game addiction.”
Ed Kelly is the lead attorney in Foster's lawsuit against the gaming industry, and while he acknowledges that many kids play video games without issue, he's here to fight for the underdog.
“Kids are playing 10 to 12 hours a day, staying up late, being late to school because they're playing video games, and not doing their best in school,” he said.
Overall, the complaint names 16 video game producers as defendants in the suit, a list that includes some of the best known names in the industry, such as Sony, Microsoft and EA Sports.
Ultimately, Kelly said the goal of the lawsuit isn't to end video games as we know them.
“Let parents know what to look out for and how to protect their children. When you're dealing with such vulnerable populations, just put it out there and let them know what signs to look out for,” she said.
For now, the legal battle begins. Only time and the court system will tell what will happen next.
The Entertainment Software Association, a group that represents video game makers, sent the following statement to FOX 8 News:
“Video games are one of the most dynamic and widely enjoyed forms of entertainment in the world. We prioritize creating positive experiences for our entire player community, providing easy-to-use tools for players, parents and caregivers to manage various aspects of gameplay. Any assertion to the contrary is not based on fact and ignores the reality that billions of people of all ages and backgrounds around the world play video games in a healthy, balanced way.”
