MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Google has broken European antitrust laws and as a result could be fined up to 10 per cent of its annual earnings, the European Commission has said. The search giant is accused of abusing its dominant position in the markets for general internet search services [in the EEA] by systematically …
Read More »EU wants to end regional digital pricing, enforce Digital Single Market
The European Commission has announced plans that, if passed, will turn the digital video games market on its head. Currently sellers such as Valve (Steam), Sony (PlayStation Network) and Microsoft (Xbox Live) funnel customers through regional portals according to their location. This is done partially for rights reasons but primarily …
Read More »EU calls for Google to sever ties between search and ad business
The close relationship between Google’s advertising and search businesses must be broken, the European Parliament has ruled. The body first revealed plans for the "unbundling of search engines from other commercial services" last week but has now approved the proposal. It wishes to ensure "competitive conditions within the digital single …
Read More »EU report rules Apple’s tax breaks in Ireland are illegal
A new EU report has stated that tax deals struck between Apple and Ireland are illegal. The deals, inked in 1991 and 2007 between the tech firm and the country’s government, were examined as part of an investigation by the European Comission’s anti-trust authority into the wider question of unlawful …
Read More »How the EU 2015 VAT changes affect you
New VAT laws next year will have a major impact on online games businesses. Ahead of a conference on the situation, Robert Hammerl and Matthias Luther of VAT specialist KMLZ explains what the changes mean for the UK At this year’s Gamescom congress, BIU – the German Entertainment Software Association, …
Read More »European Commission issues new rules for free-to-play games
Google already working to implement guidelines, but Apple yet to commit
Read More »UKIE: TV’s £233m proves we need games tax breaks now
Trade body points to success of high-end television tax relief as it continues to rally for games industry equivalent
Read More »European version of Beyond: Two Souls is censored
Sony has confirmed that the European version of Beyond: Two Souls is missing content found in the US release. The cause is the same as that which led to the censorship of The Last of Us in the region – Sony is fearful of irking sensitive European censors. Specifically, the …
Read More »UKIE calls for urgency in games tax relief approval
There is 'clear and evident market failure' in production of culturally British games
Read More »Tiga issues case for UK games tax relief to EU
Trade organisation calls for approval of initiative to encourage industry growth and halt UK brain drain
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