The MPAA, facing a suit that hopes to see smoking imagery banned from films rated G, PG or PG-13, is arguing that the ban would be an infringement of the first amendment right to free speech.
The MPAA has argued that the link between on-screen smoking and uptake by youths is “too attenuated and speculative to support damages”.
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) is attempting to defend itself against a legal complaint about smoking in films deemed suitable for children by claiming that movie ratings are opinions.
They argue that the link between on-screen smoking and teenage uptake is scientifically provable and their complaint is therefore about false advertising.