TIGA, the trade association representing the UK video games industry, today warned the UK Coalition Government that overseas governments were increasing support for their domestic games industries, leaving the UK to compete on an unlevel playing field. This warning comes in the light of the Australian Government’s announcement of a new R&D tax scheme, aimed at the digital creative industries, worth $1.9bn.
Dr. Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, stated:
“The news from Australia further confirms that governments around the world are trying to promote high technology businesses, including the video games sector. The UK Government sensibly improved the Small Firms R&D Tax Credit in March 2011, raising the level of qualifying relief from 175 per cent to 200 per cent, just as TIGA had recommended. Yet we now need to make the Small Firms R&D Tax Credit still more effective by widening the scope of the credit to cover expenditure on rates and rents, IP protection and design costs.
“The Government also needs to look again at Games Tax Relief or an equivalent measure to enable the UK to compete on a level playing field. Furthermore, the Government should examine the idea of developing a Creative Content Fund to finance new content development, with funding made available on a pound for pound basis up to a maximum of £100,000. This would improve access to finance for small game development studios. TIGA will continue to refine its proposals for Games Tax Relief and other incentives to enable the industry to compete on a level playing field.””
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Notes to editors:
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the UK’s games industry. The majority of our members are either independent games developers or in-house publisher owned developers. We also have games publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership. TIGA was awarded ‘Trade Association of the Year’ and the ‘Member Recruitment Award’ at the Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards 2010. TIGA has also been named as a finalist in the 2010 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) National Management and Leadership Awards in the category of ‘The Outstanding Organisation of the Year Award (SME)’. TIGA is an Investors in People organisation.
TIGA’s vision is to make the UK the best place in the world to do games business. We focus on three sets of activities: political representation, generating media coverage and developing services that enhance the competitiveness of our members. This means that TIGA members are effectively represented in the corridors of power, their voice is heard in the media and they receive benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities.
For further information, please contact Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO on 07875939643: or email richard.wilson@tiga.org; or contact David Hodges on 02070911653