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Forums - Gaming - Shame on Germany, Criminal Girls 2: Party Favors gets banned

Barozi said:
It's their own decision to not sell it in German stores.

But it's always funny to hear the words ban or illegal in regards to games that don't get a rating.

no its USKs decsion, if they keep selling it regardless they can be fined potentially and other legal actions if some one tries to sue them

Conina said:
It gets a physical release, so whatever. Just import it from one of the UK- or Austria-Shops (or any other country), if you want that game.

that makes it okay? 

Ka-pi96 said:
Ruler said:

And let me guess if they would bann violant games that would be bad? 

They've done that actually. They banned Gears of War for being too violent. Germany are one of the worst western countries when it comes to censorship.

thats my point the same inedviduals would be up in arms if their games would get taken away



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Conina said:
Aura7541 said:

You don't care, but is that representative of everyone else's opinions? And while there is a workaround, are the costs of importing identical to buying the game from the domestic market?

No, the costs of importing aren't identical:

 

Actually the import version is cheaper than the planned German prices. Any other complaints?

no it isnt it would be identical from Austria. UK is only cheaper because of the weak pound. And not having this game release here means you always have to import, meaning you will always spend a lot more money if not more than the original price.



Ruler said:
Barozi said:
It's their own decision to not sell it in German stores.

But it's always funny to hear the words ban or illegal in regards to games that don't get a rating.

no its USKs decsion, if they keep selling it regardless they can be fined potentially and other legal actions if some one tries to sue them

Bullshit. The stores are allowed to sell the games without USK-rating to adults, if they comply with the rulers:

http://www.usk.de/extramenue/login/publisher/start/faqs-fuer-publisher/#c1033

"10. Kann ich ein Spiel ohne USK-Kennzeichen bzw. einen indizierten Titel in Deutschland vertreiben?
Ja, es ist zulässig, Spiele ohne USK-Kennzeichen regulär im Handel zu vertreiben. Allerdings muss Folgendes beachtet werden: Wenn es sich eindeutig um Spielprogramme handelt (also keine Lehr- und Info-Programme), so sind diese unabhängig von der möglichen Alterseinstufung anderer Länder wie z.B. PEGI, ESRB, BBFC, CERO u.a., im deutschen Handel als ungeprüft zu bewerten und somit generell nur an volljährige Personen abzugeben. Hierbei ist es zudem unerheblich, ob ein vermeintlich inhaltsgleiches Produkt mit einer USK-Freigabe versehen wurde. Für Veröffentlichungen ohne USK-Kennzeichen besteht zudem die Gefahr einer Indizierung durch die Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien (BPjM). Handelt es sich bei dem entsprechenden Spiel um einen durch die BPjM indizierten Titel, so ist die Abgabe mit besonderen Beschränkungen verbunden. Hierbei dürfen die besagten Titel nicht öffentlich zugänglich gemacht, eingesehen, angeboten oder angepriesen werden. Es gilt also ein generelles Werbeverbot (nach § 15 Absatz 1 Nr. 6 JuSchG) und der Verkauf ist nur auf Nachfrage und nur an nachweislich volljährige Personen gestattet."

http://www.usk.de/en/extramenue/login/publisher/start/publisher-faqs/#c1032

10. Can I distribute an unrated or “indexed” title in Germany?
Yes, distributing games without a USK rating in Germany is in line with the existing statutory Regulations. Certain precautions have to be considered though: if your program clearly is a game (and no “infotainment” or “edutainment” program) then your title will be labeled as “unrated”, independent from the possible age classifications of other countries such as PEGI, ESRB, BBFC, CERO etc., and can therefore only to be sold to adults. If an allegedly gameplay-identical version received a USK rating at some point is negligible for this matter. Titles without USK rating are also endangered to be placed on the prohibited list (“Index”) by the Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM).
If the respective title has been indexed by the BPjM, specific terms of sale apply These media must not be displayed, offered, announced or advertised publicly in places accessible for minors. While this general ban of advertising exists for these titles (in accordance with Article 6, Section 1, Clause 6 JMStV), the sale is also restricted to verifiably adult persons only.

So as long as the game ain't on the BPjM-index, it can be even advertised, the only restriction in this case is that the game mustn't be sold to minors.



Ruler said:
Barozi said:
It's their own decision to not sell it in German stores.

But it's always funny to hear the words ban or illegal in regards to games that don't get a rating.

no its USKs decsion, if they keep selling it regardless they can be fined potentially and other legal actions if some one tries to sue them

You have no idea what the USK does, do you?
They rate games. That's it.

They can't stop anyone from distributing games within Germany. Only a judge can do that. And not getting a USK rating doesn't equal a sales ban. Far from it.



Barozi said:
Ruler said:

no its USKs decsion, if they keep selling it regardless they can be fined potentially and other legal actions if some one tries to sue them

You have no idea what the USK does, do you?
They rate games. That's it.

They can't stop anyone from distributing games within Germany. Only a judge can do that. And not getting a USK rating doesn't equal a sales ban. Far from it.

USK BPjM all the same garbage,

very typical german bureaucracy by the way claiming some other ogranisation does this and that when it should be just one entity in the first place. Why making for anyone here excuses like i dont get it?



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Conina said:
Ruler said:

no its USKs decsion, if they keep selling it regardless they can be fined potentially and other legal actions if some one tries to sue them

Bullshit. The stores are allowed to sell the games without USK-rating to adults, if they comply with the rulers:

http://www.usk.de/extramenue/login/publisher/start/faqs-fuer-publisher/#c1033

"10. Kann ich ein Spiel ohne USK-Kennzeichen bzw. einen indizierten Titel in Deutschland vertreiben?
Ja, es ist zulässig, Spiele ohne USK-Kennzeichen regulär im Handel zu vertreiben. Allerdings muss Folgendes beachtet werden: Wenn es sich eindeutig um Spielprogramme handelt (also keine Lehr- und Info-Programme), so sind diese unabhängig von der möglichen Alterseinstufung anderer Länder wie z.B. PEGI, ESRB, BBFC, CERO u.a., im deutschen Handel als ungeprüft zu bewerten und somit generell nur an volljährige Personen abzugeben. Hierbei ist es zudem unerheblich, ob ein vermeintlich inhaltsgleiches Produkt mit einer USK-Freigabe versehen wurde. Für Veröffentlichungen ohne USK-Kennzeichen besteht zudem die Gefahr einer Indizierung durch die Bundesprüfstelle für jugendgefährdende Medien (BPjM). Handelt es sich bei dem entsprechenden Spiel um einen durch die BPjM indizierten Titel, so ist die Abgabe mit besonderen Beschränkungen verbunden. Hierbei dürfen die besagten Titel nicht öffentlich zugänglich gemacht, eingesehen, angeboten oder angepriesen werden. Es gilt also ein generelles Werbeverbot (nach § 15 Absatz 1 Nr. 6 JuSchG) und der Verkauf ist nur auf Nachfrage und nur an nachweislich volljährige Personen gestattet."

http://www.usk.de/en/extramenue/login/publisher/start/publisher-faqs/#c1032

10. Can I distribute an unrated or “indexed” title in Germany?
Yes, distributing games without a USK rating in Germany is in line with the existing statutory Regulations. Certain precautions have to be considered though: if your program clearly is a game (and no “infotainment” or “edutainment” program) then your title will be labeled as “unrated”, independent from the possible age classifications of other countries such as PEGI, ESRB, BBFC, CERO etc., and can therefore only to be sold to adults. If an allegedly gameplay-identical version received a USK rating at some point is negligible for this matter. Titles without USK rating are also endangered to be placed on the prohibited list (“Index”) by the Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (BPjM).
If the respective title has been indexed by the BPjM, specific terms of sale apply These media must not be displayed, offered, announced or advertised publicly in places accessible for minors. While this general ban of advertising exists for these titles (in accordance with Article 6, Section 1, Clause 6 JMStV), the sale is also restricted to verifiably adult persons only.

So as long as the game ain't on the BPjM-index, it can be even advertised, the only restriction in this case is that the game mustn't be sold to minors.

They still can be sued if the BPJM bans the game



Ruler said:
Barozi said:

You have no idea what the USK does, do you?
They rate games. That's it.

They can't stop anyone from distributing games within Germany. Only a judge can do that. And not getting a USK rating doesn't equal a sales ban. Far from it.

USK BPjM all the same garbage,

very typical german bureaucracy by the way claiming some other ogranisation does this and that when it should be just one entity in the first place. Why making for anyone here excuses like i dont get it?

That's one of the most stupid things I've read all week.

Hitler would've loved people like you back in the days though.