ELSPA celebrates DEB victory

Its opponents have ensured their voices were heard throughout the course of the Digital Economy Bill’s passage through Parliament, but in the wake of its passing its supporters have come out in celebration.

UK video games trade body ELSPA has labelled the DEB a ‘victory’, specifically due to its rulings regarding PEGI and video games ratings.

This is a huge victory for child safety, ELSPA and the games industry,” ELSPA director general Michael Rawlinson stated.

It is the culmination of a 2 year campaign based on hard work, commitment and determination. At the beginning of the campaign no one gave us a chance of success following the initial Byron Review and the DCMS Select Committee findings – both of which preferred the sole classification of videogames to be awarded to the BBFC.

A combination of a highly skilled political strategy coupled by the commitment of our board and members has seen us claim a victory against all the odds. This achievement once again reflects how far ELSPA has travelled over the last five years in changing the attitudes of Parliament towards the games industry.”

ELSPA chairman Andy Payne added: Age rating is absolutely essential for all games and UK government worked hard with the computer games industry to get a system in place that can work for all consumers.

This is now law and means we can move on to the next pressing areas for political engagement – namely consultation on the tax breaks, greater integration of the education system and the computer games industry and IP protection.

We look forward to working with the UK government and the games industry with the same proactive approach.”