Protection of minors
To ensure that gamescom complies with Germany’s Law for the Protection of Minors, without diminishing the character of the trade fair experience, the exhibitors and the organizers must note the following points regarding the USK designation of the games they present:
Games designated USK 16 must be positioned inside an open stand in a manner that ensures the monitors/displays can be seen only by the active player or players, thus preventing younger audiences from watching. Once again, the exhibitors must guarantee that stand personnel check that only people aged 16 and above are playing the games.
Games designated USK 18 (“Not approved for young persons aged under 18”) or unrated titles must only be placed in a separated and monitored area only for people over the age of 18. The exhibitor must guarantee that the access checks will be conducted by booth personnel. The screens/displays should be positioned in such a way thus preventing younger audiences from watching.
3. In the case of displays on which games designated USK 12 are running. exhibitors must also check that these games are not being played by younger visitors.
All displays must be clearly marked with the appropriate USK sticker (as large as possible) featuring the USK age requirements for players of the installed game.
The exhibitor is solely responsible for ensuring that the presentation complies with the requirements of the German Law for the Protection of Minors.
At central locations in the trade fair halls, the organizer (Koelnmesse) will display the excerpts from the JuSchG (Law for the Protection of Minors) that are relevant to the trade fair.
At the entrance the organizer (Koelnmesse) will provide visitors with non-removable wristbands according to their to the age in colors corresponding to the colors of the respective USK stickers. This will help the stand personnel to ensure that displays are seen only by visitors from appropriate age groups.
The responsible authorities (the City of Cologne) will thoroughly monitor compliance with the JuSchG at the event and take the appropriate legal actions in the event of violations of the law. Violations of the law will be punished by closing the trade fair stand of the persons responsible and requiring them to pay substantial fines.
Koelnmesse GmbH
Cologne, October 2012
