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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - German Law to Blame For 18+ Rated Wii U Content Block In Europe

Nintendo Europe has explained that it’s a German law that’s to blame for the blocking of adult content on the Wii U eShop before 11pm. Because Nintendo Europe is based in Germany, the Nintendo eShop is complying with German youth protection regulation. Under German law, content rated 18+ must be made available only at night.

“At Nintendo we always aim to provide a safe gaming experience for fans of all ages and ensure that we comply with applicable legal age restriction requirements across Europe.”

“Legal age restriction requirements vary across a number of European countries. Since Nintendo of Europe is based in Germany, Nintendo eShop is complying with German youth protection regulation which therefore applies to all our European markets. Under German law, content rated 18+ must be made available only at night.”



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Doesn't matter to the haters. Nintendo is still to blame. Just watch.



The rEVOLution is not being televised

I blame rol.



OK, so do it in Germany alone and get servers elsewhere in the EU that don't have that restriction.



Soleron said:
OK, so do it in Germany alone and get servers elsewhere in the EU that don't have that restriction.

I don't think is really that easy when your entire online infrastructure is in one place. It will take time for Nintendo to move the servers to other countries (if they plan to do so)



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spurgeonryan said:
I blame Satan.

So then what about Sony and Microsoft and others? Do they do the same rules?

They aren't headquartered in Germany.  That's the problem.    However, they do still have similar restrictions for their German customers.

Soleron said:
OK, so do it in Germany alone and get servers elsewhere in the EU that don't have that restriction.

It's not a matter of where your servers are located but under what country your company is registered.

They'd have to open a whole new subsidiary in a different European country to bypass this problem.



The rEVOLution is not being televised

Viper1 said:
...

...

Soleron said:
...

It's not a matter of where your servers are located but under what country your company is registered.

They'd have to open a whole new subsidiary in a different European country to bypass this problem.

OK thanks. Opening a company and transferring assets on paper like that can be done fairly easily though?



Viper1 said:
Doesn't matter to the haters. Nintendo is still to blame. Just watch.


Yep. I just read this elsewhere and the comments section was bombarded with people taking the chance to yell abuse at Nintendo. Of course there was no effort on their part to read into the situation. Apparently it's all a conspiracy and Nintendo are just trying to turn us into casual gamers. But that's the internet I suppose. 

It's not the first time this year that something like this has happened. The Europeon version of Twised Metal was censored due to German law as well. 



Soleron said:
Viper1 said:
...

It's not a matter of where your servers are located but under what country your company is registered.

They'd have to open a whole new subsidiary in a different European country to bypass this problem.

OK thanks. Opening a company and transferring assets on paper like that can be done fairly easily though?


I can't be certain of that.  I'm also unsure just how broad that German law reaches.   By that I mean would a subsidiary, even based in a different coutnry, still be bound by the German laws of its parent company?   I can't say for sure if it would or not.  If it would still apply, then obviously even opening up shop (eShop that is) in a different country still wouldn't solve the problem. 

 

I'm pretty certain that Nintendo is looking at all their options.  If a viable solution is there, they will take it.



The rEVOLution is not being televised

Viper1 said:
spurgeonryan said:
I blame Satan.

So then what about Sony and Microsoft and others? Do they do the same rules?

They aren't headquartered in Germany.  That's the problem.    However, they do still have similar restrictions for their German customers.

Soleron said:
OK, so do it in Germany alone and get servers elsewhere in the EU that don't have that restriction.

It's not a matter of where your servers are located but under what country your company is registered.

They'd have to open a whole new subsidiary in a different European country to bypass this problem.

This post makes no sense to me. You just stated:

1) Other companies' actions vary by the law of each nation (which is why companies not HQ'd in Germany still follow German laws for German distribution)

2) The company's actions are based purely on which nation they are HQ'd in (which is why Nintendo has to have the SAME practices across all countries isntead of adapting to each law)

 

What?