Truth in Video Game Rating Act
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Long title | A bill to direct the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules to prohibit deceptive conduct in the rating of video and computer games and for other purposes. |
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Announced in | the 109th United States Congress |
Sponsored by | Sam Brownback (R-KS) |
Legislative history | |
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The
The bill was one of several proposed federal and state legislation that were introduced following the media attention from the
Prior to Brownback's bill, Senators Hillary Clinton, Joe Lieberman, and Evan Bayh had introduced the Family Entertainment Protection Act in December 2005, which called for a federal mandate enforcement of the ESRB ratings system in order to protect children from inappropriate content, though the legislation failed to pass.[5] The ESRB had been summoned to testify before Congress on these matters in June 2006, where ESRB president Patricia Vance stated that the group had changed its rules, and that "after a game ships, if disclosure is found to have been incomplete, recent enhancements to the ESRB enforcement system will soon allow for the imposition of fines up to USD 1 million."[6] Vance also explained the difficulties of reviewing every element of a game, some which take more than 100 hours to complete and would require professional players, well beyond the experience of the average video game player.[6]
This bill was unacted upon during its original session and was reintroduced by Senator Brownback on February 14, 2007, under the same title "the Truth in Video Game Rating Act" with a new session number (S.568). The bill remained in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and expired at the end of the 110th Congress without further action.[7]
References
- ^ Gamasutra. Archivedfrom the original on 2007-03-11. Retrieved September 27, 2006.
- ^ Bangeman, Eric (September 27, 2006). "Congress seeks truth in video game ratings". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
- ^ Parkin, Simon (December 2, 2012). "Who spilled Hot Coffee?". Eurogamer. Retrieved November 14, 2021.
- ^ Zenke, Michael (June 19, 2007). ""Boobies Did Not Break the Game": The ESRB Clears the Air On Oblivion". The Escapist. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
- ^ Jennie Lees (December 16, 2005). "Family Entertainment Protection Act Now Filed". Engadget. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
- ^ GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the originalon June 30, 2006.
- ^ "S.568 - 110th Congress (2007-2008): Truth in Video Game Rating Act". 13 February 2007. Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
External links
- Brownback Bill Would Improve Video Game Ratings - Senator says current game ratings system lacks objectivity, Sam Brownback Press release, September 27, 2006
- Congressman Sponsors "Truth in Video Game Rating Act", GamePolitics.com, September 27, 2006
- ESA Responds to Congressman's "Truth in Video Game Rating Act", GamePolitics.com, September 27, 2006