Law NEWS - Amendments to advertising of unclassified films & computer games
The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Assessments and Advertising) Bill 2008 (Bill) has been introduced into Federal Parliament. Currently, apart from a limited number of cinema products, there is a prohibition on advertising unclassified products. Due to technological advances and the associated risk of piracy, many products are not being classified until closer to their release date. The prohibition, therefore, makes it difficult to market classifiable products.
The proposed amendments will remove the prohibition and establish an industry-based self assessment scheme to ensure that unclassified films or computer games are only advertised at other films or in other computer games which have a similar classification to the one which the film in question is expected to receive. For example, a 'G' rated film will not be permitted to show previews of a film expected to be rated 'PG'. There will also be stronger warnings advising consumers to check the classification of advertised films.
The second element of the Bill allows industry-based assessors to make recommendations in relation to the appropriate classification of TV series' sold as DVD box sets. Where a film consists of a compilation of episodes of a TV series, the Classification Board will retain ultimate responsibility for its classification, but will be assisted by an assessment by an authorised assessor.
Source: Blake Dawson
View this Law News article here.
