EU Rejects Stop Killing Games Initiative
The European Commission has declined to propose legislation requiring video game publishers to keep discontinued games playable, citing concerns about intellectual property rights. The decision comes despite 1.3 million signatures in support of the 'Stop Destroying Videogames' initiative.
Key points
- The European Commission has rejected the 'Stop Destroying Videogames' initiative, which sought to require publishers to keep discontinued games playable.
- The Commission cited concerns about intellectual property rights as the reason for rejecting the initiative.
- The initiative had secured 1.3 million signatures in support, exceeding the one million threshold required for formal examination.
- The Commission will instead begin discussions with the video game industry and consumer representatives to draft an industry code of conduct.
- The code of conduct will aim to manage games at the end of their life cycle, but will not impose a legal obligation to keep games playable.
The European Commission's decision has been met with disappointment from supporters of the 'Stop Destroying Videogames' initiative. The initiative, which was formally submitted as the European Citizens' Initiative 'Stop Killing Games,' aimed to require publishers to keep discontinued games playable. The Commission's rejection of the initiative has been attributed to concerns about intellectual property rights.
The Commission's decision has been criticized by some, who argue that it fails to address the issue of game preservation. However, others have welcomed the Commission's proposal to begin discussions with the video game industry and consumer representatives to draft an industry code of conduct.
The code of conduct will aim to manage games at the end of their life cycle, but will not impose a legal obligation to keep games playable. The Commission has cited concerns about the proportionality of such a measure, and has instead opted for a more voluntary approach.
The outcome of the Commission's decision has significant implications for the video game industry, and for consumers who are concerned about game preservation. While the Commission's proposal may not be as far-reaching as some had hoped, it does represent a step towards greater transparency and cooperation between the industry and consumer representatives.
Sources
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