Finland – 26th member joins European Interactive Software Federation
Brussels, 13 December 2007, Patrice Chazerand, Secretary General of Europe's Interactive Software Federation (ISFE) welcomed the Finnish Games and Multimedia Association (FIGMA) into its organization today; it is the 26th member to join ISFE.
Said Chazerand: "FIGMA counts eleven members* in its association, all of them big software companies operating on the Finnish market. Its presence in the ISFE strengthens the industry's voice in Europe. It will help us do several things: push on with our mission to secure effective legislation for the protection of intellectual property rights, achieve adequate enforcement of the legislation and win unrestricted market access both on and off line." He added: " I am delighted to announce that with the arrival of the Finns virtually the entire Nordic block is now on board."
FIGMA's Managing Director, Riku Olkkonen, has wide experience of the industry and he pointed to the soaring market share interactive videogames are experiencing in his country: "Videogames are an important economic driver. In the year 2006 around 2.183.000 game units at a total value of 55.3 million have been sold. This year is looking even better with 52% growth in value during the first nine months already" he said. "ISFE membership will bring my member companies more scope to get their voices heard by the legislators in areas such as intellectual property, e-commerce, the fight against piracy, WTO negotiations, protection of minors and the environment."
*FIGMA members are:
AMO/Nintendo, Atari, Electronic Arts, K.E. Media, Microsoft/Xbox, Nokia, Nordisk Film/PlayStation, Plan 1, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Toptronics/PAN Vision, Vivendi Games
About ISFE
Established in 1998 and registered in 2002 under Belgian law as an international association with scientific and pedagogical purposes, ISFE (the Interactive Software Federation of Europe) represents the interests of the interactive software sector throughout the 27 EU Member States plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Today, ISFE membership comprises 13 major publishers of interactive software as well as 13 interactive software trade associations throughout Europe.
ISFE has been running the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) system since 2003 (see www.pegi.info). PEGI provides an age rating recommendation system intended to inform European parents regarding content that is suitable for their children. As a classification system PEGI supports informed adult choice and does not censor content.
For more information:
Katja Mader
15 rue Guimard
B-1040 Brussels
Tel: + 32 2 513 57 77
e-mail: katja.mader@isfe.eu