ELSPA rolls out Byron consultation plan

The UK's publisher trade body, ELSPA, has announced plans regarding its involvement in the period of public consultation which is part of the government's Byron Review process.

The organisation has set up five teams to address different aspects of the report's recommendations, and has issued a call for volunteers to get involved.

"We've held a briefing for all of our members, so that they know about the Byron Review - not just age ratings, but the whole range of issue she covered," ELSPA's MD Mike Rawlinson told GamesIndustry.biz. "We've agreed to set up five working groups, which are going to cover the areas of age ratings, online security, education/awareness, retail and advertising.

"We've called for volunteers and people who are interested in those subjects to come forward to us, and we'll be kicking those groups off later this month. They'll then push forward their work streams as is appropriate."

The key bone of contention so far from the Byron Review revolves around the way that videogames are classified in the UK, with arguments as to whether the BBFC or PEGI is the best system to use.

The period of public consultation will end in November this year, with the government set to make a final decision on the substance of Tanya Byron's recommendations in early 2009.