Yesterday marked a significant milestone for the Stop Killing Games movement, which has successfully gathered 1.4 million signatures for its European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI). This initiative aims to compel game publishers to ensure that games can continue to operate on customer systems even after official support has ended. If at least one million of these signatures are validated, the European Commission will be obligated to consider the proposal.
New Challenges Arise
However, the movement now faces an unexpected challenge. An anonymous complaint has been lodged with the European Union, alleging that the initiative has engaged in “systemic concealment of major contributions.” This accusation stems from the claim that the campaign’s founder, Ross Scott, has not disclosed significant professional contributions related to his promotional efforts. According to the complaint, Scott’s extensive work—often exceeding 12 hours a day—could be valued at between €63,000 and €147,000 if billed at a market rate of €50 to €75 per hour.
In a recent YouTube video, Scott addressed these allegations, emphasizing that the EU’s regulations do not classify individuals providing non-financial support, such as volunteers, as sponsors. Therefore, he argues, there is no obligation to report such contributions under the ECI guidelines. Scott also noted that as a U.S. citizen, he had proactively sought clarification from EU representatives regarding his role in the initiative, receiving confirmation that his involvement was appropriate.
Scott’s remarks reflect a broader sentiment within the movement, as he stated, “It’s not paranoia if they really are out to get you.” This sentiment resonates with the ongoing resistance the petition has faced. Earlier this month, the trade association Video Games Europe expressed concerns that the initiative’s proposals could hinder developers’ creative choices, potentially making game development prohibitively expensive.
As the petition approaches its deadline on July 31, the landscape surrounding the Stop Killing Games initiative continues to evolve. With the potential for further challenges and debates, the coming weeks promise to be a pivotal period for the movement and the future of game support policies in Europe.
