Links

The BIU is the body representing suppliers and producers of entertainment software in Germany. The association was founded in Frankfurt am Main in 2005. It is a funding body and shareholder of the USK.

www.biu-online.de

G.A.M.E. is the body representing developer studios for computer and video games in Germany. The abbreviation “G.A.M.E.” stands for Games, Art, Media, Entertainment. The association was founded in Berlin in 2004. It is a funding body and shareholder of the USK.

www.game-bundesverband.de

The Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia acts as the lead State for all Federal States in assuming responsibility for statutory child protection in the field of computer games on data media. Within this context, it cooperates closely with the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) in the age rating procedure.

www.mfkjks.nrw.de

The Federal State of the Rhineland Palatinate acts as the lead State in assuming responsibility for statutory child protection in public and the protection of children and young persons in the field of the media in all fundamental regards. It also organises cooperation and the exchange of experiences between the Federal States with regard to the statutory protection afforded to children and young persons. The Rhineland Palatinate also acts as the lead State for the classification of films and in this context works closely with the Self-Regulation Body for the German Film Industry (FSK).

www.mbwjk.rlp.de

The Department for Media Harmful to Young Personsis an autonomous Higher Federal Authority with its own budget. It comes under the auspices of the Federal Ministry of the Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Young Persons (BMFSFJ). The tasks of the BPjM include placing media on the index of media deemed unsuitable for young persons.

www.bundespruefstelle.de

The FSK classifies films, video cassettes and other image media which are intended for public performance or access in Germany. In order for media to be approved for those aged under 18, statutorily prescribed rating is required. The FSK undertakes this rating procedure on behalf of the Ministry of Education, Women and Young Persons of the State of the Rhineland Palatinate, the lead ministry in this area.

www.fsk.de

The Self-Regulation Body for the German Games Machine Industry was founded in 1982. It is responsible for coin-operated machines with screens and for software which is used in commercial coin-operated machines with screens.

www.automaten-selbstkontrolle.de

The KJM supports the respective State Media Institutes of the Federal States by acting as an organ for the fulfilment of their tasks and ensures the implementation of the Youth Media Protection State Agreement (JMStV), which governs the protection of children and young persons online. The KJM monitors whether any breaches have occurred and decides on measures to be instigated. Such measures are enforced by the State Media Institutes of the Federal States.

www.kjm-online.de

The website jugendschutz.net was placed under the operational control of the Youth Media Protection Commission (KJM) when the Youth Media Protection State Agreement (JMStV) was enacted on 1 April 2003. Since this time, jugendschutz.net has been supporting both the Supreme Youth Protection Authorities of the Federal States and the KJM in the fulfilment of their tasks.

www.jugendschutz.net

The FSF is a non-profit making organisation which seeks to improve the protection of children and young persons on television. Child protection aspects are considered by the inspectors at the FSF when evaluating programmes before they are shown and determining a broadcast time.

www.fsf.de

The FSM is a registered not-for-profit organisation founded by media associations and companies in 1997. It is a self-regulation body which provides everyone with an opportunity to complain online about illegal content on the Internet or about content which endangers children and young persons and also to pose online questions relating to the protection of children and young persons.

www.fsm.de

The German Press Council is a voluntary amalgamation of the various journalist and publisher associations in Germany. It acts as a mediator in cases of breaches of the Press Code by journalists or publishers.

www.presserat.info

The German Advertising Standards Council is an institution set up by the companies, media forms, agencies, advertising professional and research bodies represented by the German Advertising Federation (ZAW). Its tasks are to identify unacceptable advertising content and to act as a mediator in disputes between members of the public and advertisers.

www.werberat.de

PEGI is a pan-European age rating system for computer and video games set up by the Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) in 2003. Practical implementation of the PEGI system takes place at the Dutch Institute for the Classification of Audiovisual Media (NICAM).

www.pegi.info

The ESRB was established by the games industry association in the USA, the Entertainment Software Association, in 1994. It evaluates computer games in terms of their suitability for various age groups.

www.esrb.org

The OFLC is responsible for age classifications of media in Australia. A rating symbol is absolutely mandatory for the sale of such items as films and games in Australia. Media which are refused a rating cannot be legally imported, sold or displayed.

www.classification.gov.au

CERO was founded by the association of the Japanese games industry, the Computer Entertainment Software Association (CESA), in 2002. It has been issuing age rating symbols for computer games ever since.

www.cero.gr.jp

The GRB is a state organisation for the evaluation and age categorisation of computer and video games in South Korea. It was founded in 2006.

www.grb.or.kr