Earlier this month GamePolitics reported that German Interior Ministers were seeking a complete ban on the production and sale of violent video games within Germany. Given more recent events, it appears that officials may seek to reach beyond German borders as well.
Although the Bundestag has not yet acted on the ministers' ban request, an online video game retailer based in Austria claims that the German state of Bavaria has moved to blocked access by German customers. VideoGamesZone.de reports that the Bavarian Commission for the Protection of Children Against Media Abuse filed a lawsuit to shut down Austrian online retailer Gameware.at. Company spokesman Chris Veber told VGZ:
We've called our lawyer and are appealing, of course... this is violating the freedom of expression and wrong specifications from the [German ratings body], since we are not sending our products out to minors and do not have videos showing violence at [our site]. We are not breaking any Austrian laws...
The economic consequence would be the [silencing of] Gameware.at. No one would be able to find us on Google, the advertisements would be gone, no magazine would be allowed to mention our name...
Veber conceded that violent games are big sellers for his company and that 80% of his customers live in Germany.
Meanwhile, longtime GP reader Soldat Louis reports that last week the Bundestag passed a law to block access to some websites. This would appear to be the legal vehicle being employed against Gameware.at:
Officially, the goal is to struggle against child pornography. But in reality, many people fear that it could be a giant Internet censorship system... Indeed, now that the law has been passed, Thomas Strobl, head of the CDU for Baden-Wurtemberg state, called to extend it to "killergames"-related websites...
Global Voices Advocacy has more, including information on German citizens who are protesting the government's new policy.
GP: We'll be monitoring the German situation closely.
Comments
Re: Germany In Court to Block Access to Austrian Game ...
*nods* agreed. Unfair trade practices are usually pretty easy to litigate, but pretty hard to enforce.
Re: Germany In Court to Block Access to Austrian Game ...
Once again, Germany proves itself to be the embarrasing smelly foot of Europe. It's still baffling how a supposedly "free" nation have the government censor their media- let alone blocking internet sites.
Re: Germany In Court to Block Access to Austrian Game ...
You know who else tried to impose their law on other nations?
Hitler.
---You are likely to be eaten by a Grue.
Re: Germany In Court to Block Access to Austrian Game ...
At least we got the Godwin out of the way nice and early.
Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!
Re: Germany In Court to Block Access to Austrian Game ...
[quote]
You know who else tried to impose their law on other nations?
America.
[/quote]
Fixed for sadder truth....
I am a criminal because I purchase media,I am a criminal because I use media, I am a criminal because I chose to own media..We shall remain criminals until Corporate stay's outside our bedrooms..
http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com
Copyright infringement is nothing more than civil disobedience to a bad set of laws. Let's renegotiate them.
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http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/
Re: Germany In Court to Block Access to Austrian Game ...
That is stupid, disgusting, and intolerable....I just wish I could say it was untrue....
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I once had a dream about God. In it, he was looking down upon the planet and the havoc we recked and he said unto us, "Damn Kids get off my lawn!"