The PEGI Committees

PEGI MANAGEMENT BOARD

The PEGI Management Board is the core of the PEGI organisation. The Managing Director is responsible for running the day-to-day activities of PEGI, following guidance from the Management Board. The Board is made up of representatives of the users of PEGI (games publishers and developers), the gatekeepers of PEGI (the game console manufacturers) and the promoters of PEGI (national trade associations) plus representatives from the PEGI Council and the PEGI Experts Group. This board structure ensures there is proper oversight while maintaining PEGI’s self-regulatory strength.

PEGI COUNCIL

With PEGI in use in more than 35 countries it is vital that the system keeps in tune with social, political and legal developments in the entire region. The Council is responsible for making recommendations so that national as well as European developments are communicated and reflected in the PEGI system and its Code of Conduct. The Council gives the countries that use PEGI a voice. Of equal importance is that the authorities in the PEGI countries stay abreast of and are involved in PEGI. The Council ensures this two-way flow of information: members of the Council are primarily recruited from the authorities in the PEGI countries, working as civil servants, media specialists, psychologists, and legal advisers versed in the protection of minors in Europe.

PEGI EXPERTS GROUP

With the Council’s focus on country representation, PEGI also maintains a network of technical experts that have been an important source of advice for PEGI over the years. The PEGI Experts Group involves specialists and academics in the fields of media, psychology, classification, legal matters, technology, the online world, etc. They advise PEGI by considering technological and content-related development as recommended by the PEGI Council, the PEGI Management Board or through circumstances brought to light by the complaints procedure.

PEGI COMPLAINTS BOARD

The Complaints Board comprises a pool of independent experts in the protection of minors from different European countries. Should a complaint be received from a consumer or publisher regarding a rating given to a game and no satisfactory settlement can be reached by the PEGI administrator through discussion, explanation or negotiation the complainant may formally request the Complaints Board to mediate. Three board members will then convene, hear the complaint and decide on a ruling. Publishers using the PEGI system are bound by the decision of the Complaints Board. Consequently, they are obliged to carry out any corrective actions required and, in cases of non-compliance, are subject to sanctions as laid out by the code.

PEGI LEGAL COMMITTEE

Since PEGI is a voluntary system it runs in conjunction with, and is subordinate to, existing national laws, whether they prohibit certain content or establish mandatory rating systems. The Legal Committee’s role is to advise PEGI of any changes to national legislation within participating countries that could have an impact on the voluntary age rating system.

PEGI ENFORCEMENT COMMITTEE

The Enforcement Committee is charged with the enforcement of the provisions of the PEGI Code of Conduct, including any conclusions of the Complaints Board. The Enforcement Committee is made up of twelve members, six of which are publishers, and six of which are chosen from the PEGI Committees.