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25 UCLA Ent. L. Rev. 97 (2017-2018)
Not Yet Rated: Self-Regulation and Censorship Issues in the U.S. Film Industry

handle is hein.journals/uclaetrlr25 and id is 105 raw text is: 





   NOT YET RATED: SELF-REGULATION AND
                    CENSORSHIP ISSUES
              IN   THE U.S. FILM INDUSTRY



                        Claire  Piepenburg*


                               ABSTRACT
     There have  been efforts to censor their content from the time movies
emerged  as fixtures of popular culture. In response to growing concerns about
government  intervention, the film industry created a self-regulatory ratings
system. However, there are insufficient incentives for the industry to regulate
itself, as ratings play a direct role in box office success. Critics of the ratings
system have pointed to increased leniency over time and to the influence of
powerful studios over the process as evidence of fundamental flaws in the regu-
latory scheme. This Article suggests a more effective ratings system would base
decisions in social science data to better protect children and inform parents.

                           TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION                        .....................................................98
I.   BACKGROUND        ....................................................99
      A. Film Industry Regulation in the US., Early 1900s................99
      B. The Hays Code Adopted, 1930s.....       ................101
      C. The Hays Code Abandoned,  1968.......    .....................106
      D. The Current MPAA   Ratings System     .............   .....108
II.  ANALYSIS                       ................................................... 115
      A. Regulation of the Film Industry in the US. and Abroad........115
      B. Regulation in Other Industries ..............     ........116
         i. Television       .............................  ...... 116
         ii. Video Games       ........................... .....118
      C. Rating Movies Abroad     ................................120
         i. Australia       ...........................................121
         ii. United Kingdom      ......................    .......122
         iii. Sweden.     ............................    ......... 124
*   ID., Vanderbilt Law School, 2018; B.A., Southern Methodist University, 2013. I would
    like to thank Professor Wuerth of Vanderbilt Law School for her encouragement both
    in pursuing publication and in many other law school endeavors. Thank you to the ed-
    itors and staff of the UCLA Entertainment Law Review for their efforts towards trans-
    forming my Article into a finished work. Finally, the greatest of thanks belongs to my
    parents, Leon and Marianne Piepenburg. I owe my accomplishments to you-and place
    the blame for any of my failures squarely elsewhere!

@ 2018 Claire Piepenburg. All rights reserved.
                                   97

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