The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) held a roundtable meeting with games industry representatives, including TIGA board members, to discuss a set of principles directed to businesses involved in web and app-based games and to clarify their obligations under consumer protection law. The meeting was held at the OFT’s offices on July 29th and took place under Chatham House rules. The OFT plan to publish these principles as part of a public consultation exercise in September 2013.
The OFT is engaged in a project to ensure that consumers, especially children and other vulnerable persons, are protected from misleading and aggressive commercial practices in web and app based games.
TIGA board members and other representatives from games industry companies were able to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the OFT’s proposed principles. Issues discussed included:
• the need for a global approach: if UK consumers are to be effectively protected then the OFT should work with its counterparts in the EU, the USA and across the globe to adopt a common approach to the principles governing commercial practices in web and app based games;
• what constitutes a children’s game;
• the provision by platform holders of a ‘children’s’ category in their online stores;
• the need for a consistent approach in the guidelines governing commercial practices in the physical and digital worlds; and
• the need to provide consumers with sufficient information so that they can make informed decisions whilst avoiding information overload.
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said,
“TIGA supports the OFT’s intention to produce best practice guidelines to enable the industry to comply with the Consumer Protection (from Unfair Trading) Regulations 2008. TIGA will continue to work with its members and the OFT to develop the best possible guidelines.”
About TIGA:
TIGA is the trade association representing the video 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. Since 2010, TIGA has won 14 business awards and has been nominated a finalist for 16 other awards.
TIGA focuses 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: 07875 939 643, or email: richard.wilson@tiga.org.