A Greek court has ruled that the country's new ban on electronic games is unconstitutional and throwing out a case brought against two net café owners who were charged with allowing their customers to play Counter-Strike and online chess.

The two proprietors, along with an employee, could have faced a three month jail sentence and fines of about 5,000 Euro each, along with the loss of their business licences, the BBC reports. Instead the court has set a precedent for other cases, and set the country's legal system against its government - a battle which the courts are almost certain to win, given their ultimate right to interpret the constitution.

The ruling was welcomed by the Greek Internet Café Owners Union, with a spokesman saying that "all those who supported this from the beginning are vindicated", and by the 300-strong crowd which had gathered outside the court to protest against the law.

© z

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