On 15 December 2009 the Government published the Video Recordings Bill which is designed to correct an astounding anomaly discovered this summer that means the Video Recordings Act 1984 is not currently enforceable in UK courts.

This “anomaly” arose owing to the Government’s failure in 1984 to notify the European Commission before the Act became law.

Above everything else, this clearly demonstrates how significantly UK sovereignty has been diluted as a result of integration within the European institutions.

Luckily, since this rather serious discrepancy has been revealed, retailers have taken the responsible approach by continuing to observe the age ratings system applied to films and video games on a voluntary basis.

Once the VRA 1984 has been brought into force, the Digital Economy Bill will amend the Act by introducing a new system of classification for boxed video games.

Posted by Sarah Fellows
0115 976 6242
sfellows@brownejacobson.com