Phil Elliott 14:00 (BST)
25/01/2008

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Rockstar Games has released an official statement in response to yesterday's High Court decision to rule against the Video Appeals Committee, which had previously given the green light for Manhunt 2 to go on sale in the UK.

"We believe the VAC decision was correct and do not understand the court's decision to expend further public resources to censor a game that contains content well within the bounds established by the BBFC's 18-plus ratings certification," read the statement in full.

The VAC decision was invalidated by Mr Justice Mitting, who highlighted an "error of law" that had, he said, been made.

That error focused on the definition of what constitutes harm, and whereas the VAC had worked on the basis that the game did not cause "devastating effects," the law itself actually refers to any kind of harm arising.

The VAC will now have to reconsider its decision, a process which is expected to take place fairly swiftly.

If the committee decides against Rockstar this time around, that would effectively end the appeals process, as it's unlikely that leave to contest the matter at House of Lords level would be granted.

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