The court battle over Proposition 8 has escalated yet another step -- now over a First Amendment issue.

Two days after attorneys for proponents of California's ban on same-sex marriage filed a motion seeking to have a videotape of the landmark Proposition 8 trial sequestered from public availability, attorneys for same-sex couples challenging the ban filed a motion seeking the tape's "immediate release."

Attorneys for the City of San Francisco and attorneys for a coalition of media organizations covering the case are also expected to file requests this week for immediate release of the tape.