XN000022-1993-08-05 — Page 13

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1993

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TELA WARNS AGAINST UNLAWFUL CHARGES FOR COMPUTER GAMES

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CUSTOMERS

IS UNLAWFUL FOR COMPUTER GAME SOFTWARE VENDORS то CHARGE DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY FOR PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES PROVIDED IN THEIR SHOPS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY (TELA) SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE OPERATION OF THESE COMPUTERS FELL INTO THE DEFINITION OF AN AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRE UNDER THE AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES ORDINANCE.

COMPUTER SOFTWARE VENDORS, THEREFORE, ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN AN AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRE LICENCE FROM TELA IF THEY PROVIDE AMUSEMENT GAMES ON THEIR PREMISES AT A CHARGE, WHETHER DIRECT OR INDIRECT.

BUT THOSE COMPUTER VENDORS WHO SELL SOFTWARE FOR PRIVATE USE WOULD NOT REQUIRE SUCH A LICENCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID THE OPERATION OF THESE COMPUTERS WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE CONSTITUTED A BREACH OF THE LAW AND OFFENDERS WERE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $50,000 OR IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC COULD COMPLAIN TO TELA WHO WOULD REFER CASES TO THE POLICE TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THOSE SHOPS OPERATING AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES WITHOUT A LICENCE.

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THEY COULD ALSO INFORM THE POLICE DIRECT.

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FILM CENSORSHIP (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE IN FORCE NEXT YEAR

THE FILM CENSORSHIP (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1993 ENACTED ON JULY 14 WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 14 NEXT YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND CULTURE BRANCH SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

HE SAID A SIX-MONTH GRACE PERIOD WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE FILM AND VIDEO INDUSTRY (UNTIL JANUARY 14, 1994) TO ALLOW THEM SUFFICIENT TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

UNDER THE AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, WHEN A FILM IS APPROVED FOR EXHIBITION BY THE FILM CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY, IT IS DEEMED ΤΟ BE APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE FORM OF VIDEO TAPE AND LASER DISC.

то COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE, THE VIDEO INDUSTRY WILL NEED TO DISPLAY THE APPROPRIATE CLASSIFICATION SYMBOL AND WARNING NOTICE ON VIDEO TAPES AND LASER DISCS MADE FROM FILMS CLASSIFIED BY THE FILM CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS ON THE RELATED ADVERTISING MATERIAL.

HOLDERS OF VALID CERTIFICATES OF APPROVAL OR EXEMPTION SHOULD NOTIFY THE FILM CENSORSHIP AUTHORITY WITHIN THREE MONTHS, FROM JANUARY 14, 1994, OF ANY APPROVED FILMS PUBLISHED BEFORE THIS DATE.

/THE REQUIREMENT