Stop Killing Games Just Got Real in Parliament
Today, Stop Killing Games was debated in plenary session in Strasbourg, and the support from Members of the European Parliament was not just good this time: it was overwhelming.
The video you can find here
There were direct calls for legislation even from members of the Commission President’s own political family, the EPP, including MEP Marion WALSMANN (EPP).
There were honestly too many people saying too many relevant things to do justice to it all, so here are some highlights, followed by a list of all political groups and individual MEPs speaking in support.
MEP Markéta GREGOROVÁ (Greens/EFA, Pirate Party), SKG’s longest-standing supporter in Parliament, also took some shots at the Commission:
“So I am happy to hear from you, Commissioner, you take it seriously. However, at the last 3 public hearings, Mr. Abbamonte, on behalf of the Commission, repeated the arguments of a handful of the largest publishers almost word for word. [...] These arguments do not reflect how games actually work, and they do not reflect what these citizens are asking for. [...] The only thing standing between a paid-for game and its destruction is not technology, it is a business decision.”
MEP Catarina VIEIRA (Greens/EFA) pushed back against the familiar “this is a transparency issue” argument, and even mentioned the GTA 6 wait:
“weve been waiting for european laws for a while to come, I just hope we dont have to wait as long as weve been waiting for GTA 6”
MEP Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D) made clear that this very much concerns major publishers, especially when a successor title is ready to replace an older game:
“Unfortunately, this practice is especially widespread when a successor is ready to replace the game. This is completely unfair. Commissioner, I must say I am disappointed by what you have said. You say you see the problem, but you do not offer any solution. The problem is that we continue to treat games as digital services, rather than as products.”
MEP Lukas SIEPER (Renew) gave a very personal perspective on video games and why game preservation matters:
“I was not only Lukas Sieper, I also was Willhelm von Bergern (no joke, thats apparently is name tag in a game).”
The sentiment can be summarized neutrally as follows: only two MEPs were somewhat in opposition, while some others argued for a “balanced approach.” The majority were strongly in favor and directly called the Commission out for new legislation, even from governing political groups.
Overall, the Parliament’s sentiment is clear support. The Commission continues to be mixed. MEP Markéta GREGOROVÁ and many others summarized it well: there seems to be a lack of actual willingness by the Commission to engage with the substance of the issue.
There was one remark from the Commissioner that concerned us, maybe it was a slip-up, maybe not:
>„As I said earlier, we are working to present a proposal, a communication, the soonest possible“
If “communication” was meant literally, that would point to a non-legislative response.
That is something we have been expecting since the Euractiv leak last year, and it is exactly why we have prepared and diversified our strategy: the POG Act, the legal case, work in more countries, pressure through Parliament, and national-level routes as well.
The goal is simple: make sure SKG can still become reality, with or without the Commission. Still, if that wording was intentional, it is not good to hear and it is especially disappointing for the Commission President’s own political family, whose MEPs directly called on the Commission to move toward actual legislation. And some good news, we have pledges from groups to take this up via amendments, even if the Commission pulls a nuh uh.
Political groups in support of SKG, without major reservations:
On behalf of the S&D group: Sandra GÓMEZ LÓPEZ
On behalf of Renew: Nikola MINCHEV
On behalf of the Greens/EFA: Markéta GREGOROVÁ
On behalf of The Left: Leila CHAIBI
Political groups in support of SKG, while arguing for a balanced approach:
On behalf of the EPP: Pablo ARIAS ECHEVERRÍA
On behalf of the ECR: Piotr MÜLLER
Political group intervention that was supportive in tone, but in my view somewhat missed the point:
On behalf of ESN: Milan UHRÍK — just check for yourself.
Individual MEPs who expressed personal support:
Marion WALSMANN (EPP))
Joanna SCHEURING-WIELGUS (S&D)
Cynthia NÍ MHURCHÚ (Renew)
Maria OHISALO (Greens/EFA)
Marcin SYPNIEWSKI (ESN)
Thomas GEISEL (non-attached BSW member)
Idoia MENDIA (S&D)
Reinier VAN LANSCHOT (Greens/EFA)
Tiemo WÖLKEN (S&D)
Dóra DÁVID (EPP)
Maria GRAPINI (S&D)
Lukas SIEPER (Renew)
Vytenis Povilas ANDRIUKAITIS (S&D)
Catarina VIEIRA (Greens/EFA)
Kateřina KONEČNÁ (non-attatched)
Marcos ROS SEMPERE (S&D)
For SKG
Moritz Katzner
