UK classification/retail laws

Dia

I've been trying to find info on this, but haven't turned up anything on the BBFC or trading standards websites.

I purchased a dvd a few days ago which had an 18 rating, however the film contained nothing which would warrant this certificate. After checking the bbfc website, I found the film had been passed as a PG.
There's no extras on the disc, so it appears the distributor has just decided to place the 18 cert on it itself (possibly to get more sales, as it's truly awful)

So, can they get away with this?
Obviously it's against the law to put a lower level certificate on a dvd/video, but what about a higher one?
and would this class as a breach in trading standards?

George Tatum · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:10 pm **Post subject:**

Would that be a Vipco disc by any chance? I know Cannibal Holocaust 2 was passed 15 but rated 18 on the case, I wouldn't be surprised if they did it with PG stuff as well, some sort of twisted idea on marketing I guess :twisted:

As for your question though no, can't help, sorry

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:19 pm **Post subject:**

what film, distrubutor and dvd edition btw?

Dia · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:19 pm **Post subject:**

It was Hollywood dvd, and it appears they've done it with quite a few releases too.

Just got off the phone with them, and the person I spoke to didn't want to know at all. She tried to pass it off as because of the extras (there are none). When I pointed out it was the same on other releases of theirs, she hung up on me :evil:

edit: @Spud, the dvd was "with friends like these...", truly awful, but I was hoping for a bit of gore at least

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2004 1:32 pm **Post subject:**

Lodge a complaint with trade and standards. That kind of thing is false advertising imo, it is used to misrepresent their product. I don't know if it actually is anything illegal, but its definitely shadey... and I mean if the bitch hung up on you... :matrix:

These shitty little dvd companies bitch me off with their incompetance...

Dia · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2004 2:02 pm **Post subject:**

Quote:

Lodge a complaint with trade and standards. That kind of thing is false advertising imo, it is used to misrepresent their product.

That was my first thought too, especially after noticing other dvd's from them like this. One could be seen as a genuine mistake, but it looks to me like they're trying to gain more sales by increasing the cert.
After all, I'd have been happy with a bad movie with gore for what I paid....A bad movie without gore/sex/etc though, I feel used

Purple.Nightmare · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2004 8:11 pm **Post subject:**

plain rude marketing!!

spudthedestroyer · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2004 10:16 pm **Post subject:**

or lazy cover designers... maybe they could only afford a 1 and an 8? :lol:

UK classification/retail laws

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