We need to rally against the FPB proposed censorship laws now!
Hey all,
As you may or may not know, the universally criticised FPB regulation bill has been approved by parliament. Its ramifications for indie game developers are far and wide. It has the potential to damage the local game development industry and gives a vast amount of power to the FPB. This is a very, very bad thing.
The prime features of the bill are:
To regulate online distribution of digital films and digital games
To further regulate the classification of publications, films and games
To provide for independent industry classification bodies accreditation thereof by the Film and Publication Board
To provide for classification of publications, films and games by the independent industry classification bodies
To provide for the use of classification ratings issued by a foreign classification authority or body
To provide for exemptions in respect of online distribution of films and games
To further provide for the obligations of Internet service providers regarding curbing the use of their services in advocating racism and hate speech
The financial, moral and censorship issues that this will bring up are no joke. You may have heard that Netflix is being forced to pay over three quarters of a million rand to the FPB because of their draconian laws. We cannot afford to classify our indie games every time we enter a game jam. a lot of us cannot afford to even pay the classification fees anyway! We cannot afford to let them regulate our games on a moral level - the internet is meant to be a free and open place to distribute ideas and products. We must take action!
Right now we have a unique chance to present and speak at the Portfolio Committee on Communications in Cape Town before April 29th. It is imperative we make our concerns known and explain the financial and moral problems this will present to our industry.
I am very much open to meeting and presenting with fellow Capetonians so we can work against this problem. Thoughts?
As you may or may not know, the universally criticised FPB regulation bill has been approved by parliament. Its ramifications for indie game developers are far and wide. It has the potential to damage the local game development industry and gives a vast amount of power to the FPB. This is a very, very bad thing.
The prime features of the bill are:
To regulate online distribution of digital films and digital games
To further regulate the classification of publications, films and games
To provide for independent industry classification bodies accreditation thereof by the Film and Publication Board
To provide for classification of publications, films and games by the independent industry classification bodies
To provide for the use of classification ratings issued by a foreign classification authority or body
To provide for exemptions in respect of online distribution of films and games
To further provide for the obligations of Internet service providers regarding curbing the use of their services in advocating racism and hate speech
The financial, moral and censorship issues that this will bring up are no joke. You may have heard that Netflix is being forced to pay over three quarters of a million rand to the FPB because of their draconian laws. We cannot afford to classify our indie games every time we enter a game jam. a lot of us cannot afford to even pay the classification fees anyway! We cannot afford to let them regulate our games on a moral level - the internet is meant to be a free and open place to distribute ideas and products. We must take action!
Right now we have a unique chance to present and speak at the Portfolio Committee on Communications in Cape Town before April 29th. It is imperative we make our concerns known and explain the financial and moral problems this will present to our industry.
I am very much open to meeting and presenting with fellow Capetonians so we can work against this problem. Thoughts?
Comments
Definitely a thing IESA is pushing against as well. @Lexaquillia has had successes with the FPB in the past as well (plus I'm kinda hoping that saying his name three times summons him to this thread ... @Lexaquillia)
I think a presentation/talk is essential too. Perhaps we should push for that too once the copypasta is ready?