Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today welcomed the release of draft
guidelines for the classification of computer games that includes an
adults-only category.

"Australia is the only developed country where computer games with adult
themes are seized at the docks," said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. "It is long
past the time to harmonise classification laws and give adults the freedom to
choose what to watch and play. Whether the disc goes into the DVD player or
game console, the principle should be the same."

The guidelines include an R18+ category for adults-only games. Games that do
not fit into the MA15+ category are banned for sale in Australia under the
current system. For the new guidelines to be adopted, the agreement of all
the states is required.

"The federal government has shown strong leadership in this area which we
applaud," said Jacobs. "This is something the public wants and it would be a
scandal if one recalcitrant state attorney-general derailed it to score
points or because they thought it was all too hard."

"This isn't about putting more violent games into the hands of kids," added
Jacobs. "It's the opposite, a category that is specifically forbidden to
children. In a free country like ours, giving adults that choice shouldn't be
controversial."

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Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today urged skepticism about claims that piracy is costing thousands of jobs in Australia.

The Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) yesterday released a study,"Economic consequences of movie piracy", purporting to show that movie downloading is costing the economy over a billion dollars each year.

"We question many of the assumptions underlying this report," said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. "The industry has a habit of crying wolf with these sorts of numbers, trying to drum up support for tougher laws. But there are many factors they don't take into account. Treating downloads as lost economic activity is flawed, and downloaders are actually some of the entertainment industry's best customers. The study also ignores the effects to the wider economy of money being spent elsewhere at Australian-owned businesses."

EFA also questions the industry's ongoing strategy of trying to defend their old business model without adapting to the realities of the digital age.

"Instead of waging war against their customers - and trying to get government help to do so - the movie industry should focus on improving its own offering, and give customers a better alternative to the peer-to-peer networks," said Jacobs. "History shows that customers are happy to pay a fair price for a good product and a good service."

EFA has provided further analysis on its web site at efa.org.au.

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Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today questioned the campaign by major retailers to thwart the rise in overseas e-commerce.

Major retailers today published an open letter calling on the Government to lower the GST-free threshold on imported items, in a bid to slow the growth of online sales.

"We think this move would hurt Australian internet users and consumers," said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. "Until a solid case is made that the economic benefits would outweigh the advantages in choice, price and convenience to shoppers, we don't think the status quo should be changed."

"The rise in online commerce has significant benefits for Australians, and will only become more important, " added Jacobs. "With the NBN on the way, any changes targeted specifically at hindering online shopping should only occur after a lot more study and consultation."

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Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA) today urged state governments to continue the momentum for classification reform, following a lack of agreement by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General to establish an adults-only classification for computer games. Currently, computer games that would be rated above MA-15+ are banned for sale in Australia.

"This is a reform that has overwhelming public support and is long overdue," said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. "For over a decade, games have been treated differently to movies, causing dozens of popular titles to be banned in Australia. It's high time this situation was remedied."

Changes to the classification code require unanimous agreement by the states. The issue of creating an R-18+ category for games was discussed today at a meeting of Australian attorneys-general, with the state representatives instead agreeing to consult on potential impacts to the MA-15+ category.

"We urge the state governments to listen to their people and remove any obstacles to this reform," said Jacobs. "The research shows we can give adults the choice to consume entertainment appropriate for them, while actually enhancing the ability to protect children. Seeing this change through is really a no-brainer, and Australians gamers have waited long enough."

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Electronic Frontiers Australia today welcomed the Government's announcement that it supports an adults-only category for computer games, ahead of a meeting of Australian attorneys-general this Friday.

"In banning all games that are not suitable for children, Australia is an outlier amongst developed countries," said EFA Chair Colin Jacobs. "Given the average age of the Australian gamer is over 30, it's ridiculous that adults can't choose to purchase entertainment designed just for them. Over 80% of the Australian public agree."

Home Affairs minister Brendan O'Connor yesterday released a statement encouraging the states to adopt an R-18+ category for computer games, citing survey data showing the Australian people overwhelmingly supports such a move.

"Creating an adults-only category will protect children, not somehow expose them to more extreme content. It no longer makes sense that computer games be treated so differently to movies. Just because we move a disc from the DVD player to the X-Box, it shouldn't suddenly become illegal. We urge the states to get on board and get this necessary reform done as quickly as possible," said Jacobs.

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