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On 2 September 2014, the Flemish Media Regulator (Vlaamse Regulator voor de Media) published three decisions in which it found that two broadcasters had violated the provisions in the Flemish Media Decree that prescribe the conditions under which teleshopping, sponsoring, and advertorials may be broadcasted. The first decision (2014/036) concerned a teleshopping programme, Jim Request Live, which was interrupted five times after less than 15 minutes. Article 82, § 1, 3° of the Flemish Media Decree, however, states that teleshopping programmes must last for at least 15 minutes before being interrupted....

On 12 September 2014 the European Commission published its Feedback Paper on the public consultation responses it received following the release of its Green Paper on ‘Preparing for a Fully Converged Audiovisual World: Growth, Creation and Values in 2013 (see IRIS 2013-6/5). The purpose of the Green Paper had been to initiate a public discussion on the implications of the rapidly transforming audiovisual landscape, and in particular media convergence (i.e. the progressive merger of traditional broadcast services and the internet). The Commission opened its public consultation on the Green Paper...

On 21 July 2014 President Putin of the Russian Federation signed into law several federal statutes that amend certain important regulations of TV advertising. The Federal Statute “On amendments to Article 14 of the Federal Statute On Advertising” was passed by the State Duma on 4 July 2014. It prohibits commercials on encoded and/or pay television channels if these channels do not hold a terrestrial broadcasting licence or are not on the list of must-carry programmes (see IRIS 2013-6/31). The ban enters into force on 1 January 2015. The justification of the amendments was the need to stop unfair...

In summer 2014, the legislator in Hungary introduced a special tax. This special tax could significantly reshape the entire domestic media market. The advertising tax law, which entered into effect in mid-July, imposes a new levy on income from advertising. The range of subjects, who must pay this tax, is rather broadly defined. The new special tax has elicited protest by all market players. In addition to electronic, print and online press products, it also extends tax liability on outdoor and internet advertising. Pursuant to the legislative intent, the tax needs to be paid not only by companies...

On 2 July 2014, the British advertising industry’s self-regulatory body, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), reprimanded the electronic game manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA) for an advertisement for its “Dungeon Keeper” game. The “Dungeon Keeper” game is a so-called Freemium game, i.e. the game is, in principle, free, but players can acquire equipment, credits and so on, via in-app purchases in order to progress further in the game. The ASA acknowledged that, in principle, it was possible to complete the game without spending money. However, it would take much longer and limit gameplay...