BBFC to launch voluntary online ratings system

[beemoh]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7412336.stm

Basically, a new ratings system for digital distribution sales, which is aparrently voluntary, but still requires age verification systems.

Anyone care to take a guess as to how long this will remain "voluntary"?

[ZippyDSMlee]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7412336.stm

Basically, a new ratings system for digital distribution sales, which is aparrently voluntary, but still requires age verification systems.

Anyone care to take a guess as to how long this will remain "voluntary"?

What are they going to do close down or block websites...oh wait...N/M....what was I thinking...... :rolleyes:

[beemoh]

What are they going to do close down or block websites...oh wait...N/M....what was I thinking...... :rolleyes:

Presumably they'll issue the same fines they issue to bricks-and-mortar retailers.

Question is, what are they going to do to sites and services that don't sign up for the system? Am I going to get fined if I knock together a game/film in my spare time and make it available on my personal site?

[ZippyDSMlee]

Presumably they'll issue the same fines they issue to bricks-and-mortar retailers.

Question is, what are they going to do to sites and services that don't sign up for the system? Am I going to get fined if I knock together a game/film in my spare time and make it available on my personal site?

that will only work for anything on British soil past that they'll be laughed at.

[beemoh]

that will only work for anything on British soil past that they'll be laughed at.

/me does a passport check on the soil beneath him

...****.

[ZippyDSMlee]

/me does a passport check on the soil beneath him

...****.
lulz

merely saying they have a limited area of jurisdiction even the courts would be limited by it.

[beemoh]

lulz

merely saying they have a limited area of jurisdiction even the courts would be limited by it.

That's my point- this is a very, very broken system in its current state.

It's why I've taken the approach recently with the BBFC vs. PEGI thing that the whole issue is academic as neither of them will be relevant in a few years as the internet has killed them both.

[ZippyDSMlee]

That's my point- this is a very, very broken system in its current state.

It's why I've taken the approach recently with the BBFC vs. PEGI thing that the whole issue is academic as neither of them will be relevant in a few years as the internet has killed them both.

I dunno its goign to take 5-10 years before that and as a "standardization" and government interest gov will assist them in controlling new media, the only question then becomes will they do it as a regional bonus thing where the distributor asks to get a stamp to show its rating level or where they hunt for illicit media backed by the government......

The "standardization" is not so bad its the absoluteness that almost invalidates it, to sell well in the mainstream you need to be "family friendly" in at least appearance thus most pubs/distributors will be happy to get a voluntary rating stamp..

[beemoh]

The "standardization" is not so bad its the absoluteness that almost invalidates it, to sell well in the mainstream you need to be "family friendly" in at least appearance thus most pubs/distributors will be happy to get a voluntary rating stamp..

In which case, they'll self-rate with their own system- look at DVDs in the US, most stuff that isn't from a major isn't rated by the MPAA.