Moscow court rejects 'Simpsons' and 'Family Guy' morality lawsuit
UPI News Service, 04/04/2005
A Moscow court has rejected a lawsuit brought against a television station for broadcasting the American animated series "The Simpsons" and "Family Guy."
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The plaintiff, Igor Smykov, filed the suit against television station RenTV almost three years ago, claiming the two series were morally degenerate and promoted drugs, violence and homosexuality, The Moscow Times reported Monday.
Smykov asked for compensation of $10,770 and demanded that the station be banned from airing the two programs or at least be required to show them later in the evening.
The plaintiff said that his son Konstantin, who was 6 in 2002, approached his parents after watching an episode of "Family Guy" and asked them what cocaine was. After he was reprimanded, Konstantin called his mother a toad, Smykov said.
The suit alleged that RenTV, by broadcasting the two programs, was interfering with a child's right to a normal, healthy childhood.
Judge Lyubov Dednyova, after watching videos of the two series in court, ruled Friday in favor of the television station.
RenTV lawyer Viktor Zinovyev said afterward: "Parents above all should decide what a child watches. The government cannot decide that for parents."
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