I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5912 
To direct the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules to prohibit 
deceptive conduct in the rating of video and computer games. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 26, 2006 
Mr. STEARNS (for himself, Mr. MATHESON, and Mr. MCINTYRE) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe rules 
to prohibit deceptive conduct in the rating of video and 
computer games. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Truth in Video Game 
Rating Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DECEPTIVE RATINGS OF VIDEO GAMES. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall prescribe 
rules under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, 
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to prohibit the following as an unfair and deceptive act 
or practice prescribed pursuant to section 18(a)(1)(B) of 
the 
Federal 
Trade 
Commission 
Act 
(15 
U.S.C. 
57a(a)(1)(B)): 
(1) RATING
GAME
ONLY
ON
PARTIAL
CON-
TENT.—Such rules shall prohibit any person or enti-
ty from providing a content rating of any video or 
computer game that is to bear a label containing 
such content rating when sold or distributed in 
interstate commerce unless such person or entity has 
reviewed the content of the video or computer game 
in its entirety. 
(2) WITHHOLDING
CONTENT
FOR
RATING.— 
Such rules shall prohibit any person who produces, 
sells, or otherwise distributes video or computer 
games in interstate commerce from withholding or 
hiding any content of the video or computer game 
from, or in any other manner failing to disclose any 
content of the video or computer game to, the person 
or entity to whom the video or computer game is 
submitted for the purpose of obtaining a content 
rating. 
(3) GROSS
MISCHARACTERIZATION
OF
CON-
TENT.—Such rules shall prohibit any person or enti-
ty that provides a content rating for a video or com-
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puter game that is to bear a label containing such 
content rating when sold or distributed in interstate 
commerce from providing a content rating that 
grossly mischaracterizes (as defined by the Commis-
sion in such rules) the content of the video or com-
puter game. 
SEC. 3. G.A.O. STUDY. 
(a) STUDY.—The Comptroller General shall conduct 
a study to determine— 
(1) the effectiveness of the ESRB video and 
computer game content ratings system, including 
content ratings for on-line or Internet-based games; 
(2) whether content ratings systems, like that 
used by the ESRB, should be peered-reviewed; 
(3) whether an independent ratings system 
would offer better accuracy and effectiveness in con-
tent ratings for video and computer games; 
(4) the prevalence of marketing video and com-
puter games to audiences that fall under the age- 
based content ratings of those games; and 
(5) the efficacy of a universal ratings system 
for visual content, including films, broadcast and 
cable TV, and video and computer games. 
(b) REPORT.—The Comptroller General shall trans-
mit a report on the findings of the study conducted pursu-
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ant to subsection (a) to Congress not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall 
contain recommendations regarding effective approaches 
to video and computer game content ratings that address 
the unique ratings challenges of on-line and Internet- 
based video games. 
SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
As used in this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘content’’, with respect to video 
and computer games, means all of the visual images 
and sounds that are included as part of the recorded 
data of the video or computer game; 
(2) the term ‘‘content rating’’ means any rating 
of the content of a video or computer game provided 
to notify consumers of any content which may be of-
fensive to consumers or may not be suitable to per-
sons of varying ages, including such content as vio-
lence, graphic sexual content, nudity, or strong lan-
guage; 
(3) the term ‘‘ESRB’’ means the Entertain-
ment Software Ratings Board; and 
(4) the term ‘‘video or computer game’’ means 
any electronic object or device that creates an inter-
active game capable of being played, viewed, or expe-
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rienced on or through a computer, gaming system, 
console, or other technology. 
Æ 
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