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Upton Introduces Bill to Restore Integrity to Video Game Ratings.
“Truth in advertising” legislation seeks to ensure that parents can rely on accuracy of video game ratings – prevent games with hidden content from hitting store shelves
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph), a longtime watchdog of the video game industry, has introduced legislation to ensure that parents can rely on a ratings system that accurately describes a video game’s content. Upton’s legislation, H.R. 6120, the “Video Game Decency Act,” prohibits deceptive acts and practices in the content rating and labeling of video games and provides the Federal Trade Commission the authority it needs to pursue financial sanctions against those firms who try to deceive the ratings system.
“As a parent of two teenagers, I know firsthand that parental involvement is the most important line of defense in determining the type of content suitable for children, and the ratings system empowers parents to do just that,” Upton said. “This legislation will restore parents’ trust in a system in which game makers had previously done an end-run around the process to deliver violent and pornographic material to our kids. Parents across the country can breathe a sigh of relief as this legislation goes hand in hand with the mission of the industry’s own ratings system.”
The “Video Game Decency Act,” written under the guidelines of the Constitution, is a simple, surgical approach to provide new regulatory authority for the Federal Trade Commission to punish bad players in the video game industry when they hide indecent, violent or otherwise age-inappropriate content in order to manipulate the ratings system.
Upton introduced the bipartisan legislation with Illinois Democrat, Rep. Bobby Rush, and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), Joe Pitts (R-PA), John Shimkus (R-IL), Curt Weldon (R-PA), Albert Wynn (D-MD), Dave Camp (R-MI), Mike Pence (R-IN), Lee Terry (R-NE) and Frank Wolf (R-VA) are all original co-sponsors.
In July of 2005, the House passed Upton’s resolution, H.Res.376, which expressed the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal Trade Commission should investigate the publication of the video game “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” to determine if the publisher deceived the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to avoid an “Adults-Only” rating. The bestselling game had been rated “Mature,” but it was discovered that the game was manufactured with hidden, sexually explicit graphics. Upton’s resolution overwhelmingly passed the House by a vote of 355 to 21 on July 25, 2005.
“In the wake of the case against Take Two and Rock Star Games, I could not believe what I was hearing when the Federal Trade Commission revealed that they did not possess the means to go after companies who intentionally deceived consumers,” said Upton. “While the game makers were clearly at fault, the punishment did not appear to fit the crime. This legislation will change that, and parents will be able to have faith in the ratings system once again.”
The release of “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” last summer was widely anticipated by consumers, but an “Adults-Only” rating would have severely limited its sales in retail outlets. The bestselling game had been rated “Mature,” but it was discovered that the game was manufactured with hidden, sexually explicit graphics.
Earlier this year, the companies behind the popular Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas video game agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they failed to disclose important information about the game’s content to consumers. According to the FTC, the companies, in advertising the Entertainment Software Rating Board (“ESRB”) rating for the game, did not tell consumers that the game discs contained potentially viewable nude female characters and a potentially playable sex mini-game.
Press Release
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For Immediate Release
September 22, 2006
Contact: Sean C. Bonyun
(202) 225-3761
RADIO REPORTERS:
An actuality is available:
Dial: 202/ 226-4766
Enter: 8786630#
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Source:
http://www.house.gov/upton/press/press-09-22-06.html
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