UK Interactive Entertainment Association
New £500 entry point membership launched for small companies signing up with trade body UKIE.
Wednesday 15 September 2010 – Following its successful brand launch last week, video games and interactive entertainment trade body, UKIE, today announced that it is introducing a new £500 entry point membership fee.
The UK continues to see more small interactive entertainment businesses emerging in the online, casual, social and mobile markets, that all need to make money from their intellectual property. The new £500 entry point membership is now in place to allow these companies to take advantage of the benefits of UKIE membership.
UKIE exists to champion the interests, needs and positive image of the video games and wider interactive entertainment industry. It offers all its members the same high level of service and benefits. In particular, UKIE:
speaks to government and to big industry partners on a range of issues including age ratings, education and skills, tax incentives and protecting intellectual property rights exclusively owns key UK sales information and research promotes its members’ careers and businesses through our website and regular member communications operates member taskforces and working parties to harness industry expertise and lead UKIE policy on the issues facing the industry provides networking opportunities at UKIE owned events offers IP protection support through our Intellectual Property Crime Unit secures invitations to industry events (often discounted) UKIE shall continue to develop what they offer their members and the issues that they represent them on. Any interactive entertainment companies that are interested in joining UKIE should contact UKIE’s Commercial Manager Sam Collins ( sam.collins@ukie.info).The new £500 entry point full membership fee replaces the previous lowest full membership subscription level of £4,000. UKIE’s membership subscriptions reflect the UK turnover of the member organisation. The current percentage paid by full UKIE members is 0.25% of their UK turnover – this will continue to be the percentage used. UKIE also welcomes industry associates for an annual fee of £2,500.
UKIE already represents the majority of the UK video games industry. In 2009 UKIE members were responsible for 99% of the games sold as physical products in the UK (GFK Chart-Track). Four of the world’s top five development studios are owned by UKIE members and UKIE is also the only trade body to represent the major console manufacturers (Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony).
UKIE’s Director General, Michael Rawlinson said “Whilst the physical product market remains strong, the boundaries between traditional developers and publishers are blurring and new business models are emerging. Our new lower membership fee shows that UKIE welcomes these exciting new interactive entertainment businesses and is committed to representing them and giving them the support that they need to thrive. I’d urge anyone interested in joining UKIE to get in touch with us and take advantage of this new membership fee as soon as possible.”
Contacts:
For all press enquiries, please contact the UKIE press office on T: +44 (0)20 7300 6143 or E: press@ukie.info
About UKIE
The Association for United Kingdom Interactive Entertainment or UKIE is the only trade body that represents the whole of the UK’s video games and wider interactive entertainment industry. Founded in 1989 (and formerly known as ELSPA), UKIE’s membership includes games publishers, developers and the academic institutions that support the industry.
UKIE works with government to champion a range of issues including age ratings, education and skills, tax incentives and protecting intellectual property rights. It also works with the media to ensure true and accurate representation of the sector by raising awareness of the industry’s positive economic contribution and the societal benefits of gaming to policy makers, regulators and consumers.
One of UKIE’s key roles is to support its members by providing them with key market information, promoting careers and offering the business support services, training and best-practice knowledge to enable them to operate most effectively.
In addition, UKIE works with GfK Chart-Track to compile weekly, monthly and annual retail charts and sales reports for the UK market.