Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act

Bill: 113-hr-287
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Matheson, Jim [D-UT-4]
Introduced: 2013-01-15
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Child safety and welfare

Consumer affairs

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Internet and video services

Internet, web applications, social media

Lease and rental services

Product safety and quality

Retail and wholesale trades
Latest action: action_date: 2013-01-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-01-15
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act - Prohibits shipping or distributing in interstate commerce, selling, or renting a video game the outside packaging of which does not display a label containing an age-based content rating determined by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).</p> <p>Directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to require all retail establishments that sell video games to display information about the ESRB content rating system.</p> <p>Prohibits any person from selling or renting video games containing the ESRB content rating of: (1) &quot;adults only&quot; to any person under the age of 18, or (2) &quot;mature&quot; to any person under the age of 17.</p> <p>Treats violations of such requirements and prohibitions as an unfair or deceptive act or practice subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 per violation.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 287 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 15, 2013 Mr. Matheson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To require ratings label on video games and to prohibit the sales and rentals of adult-rated video games to minors.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act . 2. Rating label requirement for video games (a) Conduct prohibited It shall be unlawful for any person to ship or otherwise distribute in interstate commerce, or to sell or rent, a video game that does not contain a rating label, in a clear and conspicuous location on the outside packaging of the video game, containing an age-based content rating determined by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. (b) Requirement of retailers To post ratings information Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission shall promulgate rules requiring all retail establishments engaged in the sale of video games to display, in a clear and conspicuous location, information about the content rating system of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board. Such rules shall prescribe the information required to be displayed concerning the basic age-based content ratings of such Board. 3. Prohibition on sales and rentals of adult-rated video games to minors It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or rent, or attempt to sell or rent— (1) any video game containing a content rating of Adults Only (as determined by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board) to any person under the age of 18; or (2) any video game containing a content rating of Mature (as determined by such Board) to any person under the age of 17. 4. Enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission (a) Unfair or Deceptive Act or Practice A violation of sections 2 or 3 shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act ( 15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B) ). The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction as though all applicable terms and provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act were incorporated into and made a part of this Act. (b) Penalty Notwithstanding section 5(m) of the Federal Trade Commission Act ( 15 U.S.C. 45(m) ), any person who violates section 2 or 3 of this Act shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 per violation.