For at least the next three months, the Video Recordings Act of 1984 (VRA) will not exist. Twenty-five years after the Thatcher government made the act law, it was discovered that they did not notify the European Commission. The Digital Britain project, promoting technology in the UK, found the mistake.

The law had forbidden sales of violent video games to minors, and required most adult films to be sold only in licensed sex shops.

The act’s removal means that until it is up for a vote again in three months’ time, no prosecutions may take place under the VRA. Current prosecutions have been dropped.

According to BBC News, however, a government spokeswoman warned, “Our legal advice is that those previously prosecuted will be unable to overturn their prosecution or receive financial recompense.”

BBC also reports that 87 people have been convicted under the act as of 2007.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8219438.stm?lsf

http://www.slashgear.com/game-dvd-age-restrictions-undermined-after-uk-legal-blunder-2553617/

http://www.xbiz.com/news/112049