PEGI Threatens to Kick Lying Publishers Out of Europe

The European video games rating agency, PEGI, that is set to take-over UK game ratings is apparently going to be armed with the power to remove publisher's wares from retail.

"...if a publisher misleads PEGI, they will be fined up to half a million Euros – and be refused official ratings. That will prevent them from publishing on all major platforms in Europe."

So says ELSPA's director of communications and public affairs,Tim Wapshott, to MCV. He continues, "If you deliberately mislead us, you will be thrown out. In the worst-case scenario, you will be disqualified from releasing a game anywhere across Europe.

"That means we effectively bankrupt you as a profit-making organisation."

This power was not, according to Director General of ELSPA, Mike Rawlinson, even available to the BBFC.

This tough line begs a series of questions: firstly, what is currently happening to publishers who lie to PEGI? Secondly, 'lie' is far more specific than 'mislead' or 'mis-state' leaving plenty of legal wriggle room, is this more bluster than enforceable policy? We'll find out.