Legal Beagle : Administrative error leaves law unofficial.
As a resident of the UK, and a 16-year-old one at that, I’m often accosted by game-store employees asking for my identity when trying to purchase games. However, the Times is reporting that the law in Great Britain which made age restrictions on purchasing legally enforceable was “never enacted”. Hit the jump for more.
The actual law is the 1984 Video Recordings Act, a law designed to restrict the distribution of “adult videos” (pornography) to minors, but later applied to video games. The Act enabled the Government to penalise individuals who sold inappropriate items to those too young. The law was never formally enacted because the Home Office failed to notify the European Commision (which is required, as the UK is a member of the European Union). In the words of the Times, the situation “is a big embarrassment to both Conservative and Labour governments.”. It also means anyone up for prosecution will be let off, since they can’t be held legally, but anyone already convicted don’t stand to have their sentences commuted or overturned.
The Director General of the British Video Association (the industry body which represents the majority of the industry) Lavinia Carey, said “What a ludicrous situation to find ourselves in after all this time.” The Police and Revenue and Customs are actually being told not to prosecute anyone under this act. This essentially means until the government get their act together and sort this out, it’s legal to sell porn and under-age rated games to kids.
I just find it hilarious that something as old as this was never noted, even though it was amended twice by the Conservatives .Don’t mistake me, I don’t think that 7-year-olds should be allowed to play Gears of War or whatever, it’s just very enjoyable to see the ones who so restricted my purchasing options falling flat of their faces.
Thanks to Destructoid’s Jim Sterling for making me aware of this.
Tags: Gaming Law, Gaming Sales, UK
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Yeah, I find this hilarious (it should be pointed out that the VRA wasn't just designed to limit the distribution of porn, it applied to every video, DVD and age-rated game sold). I had to learn the VRA for my job and get re-tested on it every 3 months – not to mention logging every single time I refused service to someone under-age. So believe me when I say, retailers took this law seriously! Add to this the mystery shoppers trying to catch us out and the prosecutions (I knew someone who did get caught selling to someone under age too).
All this for a law that technically doesn't exist?!
Thanks for pointing that out (the VRA's purpose). It's always good to have people who actually know what they're talking about chipping in.
Well there I guess all that learning and testing wasn't completely wasted then!
Yeah, I find this hilarious (it should be pointed out that the VRA wasn't just designed to limit the distribution of porn, it applied to every video, DVD and age-rated game sold). I had to learn the VRA for my job and get re-tested on it every 3 months – not to mention logging every single time I refused service to someone under-age. So believe me when I say, retailers took this law seriously! Add to this the mystery shoppers trying to catch us out and the prosecutions (I knew someone who did get caught selling to someone under age too).
All this for a law that technically doesn't exist?!
Thanks for pointing that out (the VRA's purpose). It's always good to have people who actually know what they're talking about chipping in.
Well there I guess all that learning and testing wasn't completely wasted then!