Quick Jump Daily Digest

Thank you for your interest in the Quick Jump Daily Digest. Get notified of all new content on QJ in our free Daily Digest. To subscribe, enter your email address below and click the subscribe button.

Cancel and Return to page

Tony Blair comments on the Church of England's complaints against Sony

Posted Jun 13, 2007 at 6:08AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3 Tags: Sony, Verbatim

Everyone has their own say about the Church of England's dispute against Sony, and earlier we've just covered a game developer's insight about it. Now, it's none other than Prime Minister Tony Blair putting his own two cents into the matter. And it looks like he agrees with the Church as far as companies like Sony should start acting more responsibly is concerned.

The topic about cathedrals being shown in videogames popped up just today, in a recent session of Prime Minister's Questions - with Manchester Central MP Tony Lloyd putting forward the question himself. Here's his exact question, just so you see how he asked it - it's interesting to see that he cites Sony's legal tactics before going into the actual heart of the matter.

When large organisations like Sony find their copyright has been breached, they're very quick to use the law.

Would the Prime Minister agree with me then that when Sony used images of Manchester Cathedral as part a game which extols gun violence, this was not only in bad taste but also very, very insulting to not simply the Church of England, but people across the land who think it's inappropriate that big corporations behave in this way?

What's more interesting is The Prime Minister's response to it. Here it is, verbatim:

I agree with my honourable friend. I think it's important that any of the companies engaged in promoting these types of goods have some sense of responsibility and also some sensitivity to the feelings of others.

I think this is an immensely difficult area, the relationship between what happens with these games and its impact on young people. I've no doubt this debate will go on for a significant period of time, but I do agree. I think it is important that people understand there is a wider social responsibility as well as an interior responsibility for profits.

While he doesn't exactly agree on the Church's stand, he does agree about the part about companies being responsible about its impact on the youth. And with the actual point of contention here being whether the Church of England, as a whole, was put in a bad or defamatory light by one of its Cathedrals being displayed in Resistance, there's going to be a lot of debate as far as who's ultimately in the right is concerned.

What do you readers think? Agree or disagree with the PM's opinion on the whole deal? Let us know by your comments.

100% of voters think this story ROCKS!

Vote Now!

(1)

(0)

Quoted from a GamesIndustry article (with edits);

" The UK's 1988 Copyright Designs and Patents act explicitly states that it is not copyright infringement to represent certain artistic works that are on public display. This includes buildings and sculptures which are 'permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public'. Therefore the inclusion of the Cathedral in the game could not be considered to be an infringement of any copyright in it. It is also unlikely Manchester Cathedral has any copyright remaining on it as copyright expires 70 years after the person who created the work dies.

What all this means is that public buildings are generally fair game for inclusion in videogames, films et cetera, and it is something that their owners just have to accept. "

# He's a bungling AR5E — Guest 2007-06-13 08:04

What a populist response, come on he believed GWB when he said Iraq had WMD, and led us into a war for oil, his opions change with the breeze, I'm glad he's going, mind you I don't approve of his replacement, but whatever.

As with all polititions, they always want to look good and this just proves it, instead of saying that it was not a political issue which it isn't, he has to try and woo the public. For once I'd like to hear some honesty from MY government.

Yes companies are responsible for their content, just as newspapers are responsible for their own brand of 'News', and television is responsible for their programming. But the Church doesn't shout from the pulpit about the wrongness of our invasive newspapers or the programmes on telly. Oh no let's pick on a minority shall we...

Maybe we should start our own organisation, the Church of Sony or something. Then we would be entitled to the same freedoms handed to every other minority group.

Maybe there should be a march in support of Insomniac.

This whole story has made my blood boil (guess nobody noticed

). It's just indicative of modern society.. Sombody does something someone else doesn't like... 'Oh my sensibilities have been so offended'..

What about my rights? I have them too.

# lol — Guest 2007-06-13 08:22

stfu Blaur you sent hundreds if not thousands of men to a certain death in raq.. you are the last to be able to mention anything on violent video games *****ign brit *****

# Unfortunately... — Guest 2007-06-13 08:26

Someone may try to use the reputation damage case as some of the cast of Borat attempted.

# hah — Guest 2007-06-13 08:31

This is such a dumb, stupid, rediculous argument. Its like they are trying to say that your role in resistance is that you are some normal everyday joe with a weapon and you go into a church while people are having a church service and massacre them for fun. The funny thing is, this is not what resistance is about at ALL! If the scenario were just like what I menioned above, then I could see the church having a point. But defending earth from invading aliens in a church does not seem wrong to me in any way. Sigh, this is the dumbest argument i've seen in a long time, way to go church of england.

# .... — Guest 2007-06-13 08:55

and the game is not aimed at the youth with its mature rating so wth, gr8 dodge i guess

# yay — Guest 2007-06-13 08:55

im a british bastad, i like tea and crumpets- tony blair.

# ey! — Guest 2007-06-13 09:05

Ey you *****! Some of us who come on here are British. And not all of us are *****s like Tony Blair.

He aint the image of Britain, and has just resigned so whatever he says don't matter.

So next time you wanna get into an arguement about my cultural background and your culture background, bring it on, because I have just revised 50 years of American history for my test and trust me your country turns out that it isnt all that!

# umm all i gotta say is — Guest 2007-06-13 09:18

revolutionary war biotch and we saved you all and the rest of europe and god knows the rest of the world in world war 1 and 2 we say jump u say how high we say fight u say where we say invade iraq u say yesa sir mr bush sir get off american peni* * * ps 33,000 camreas are watching u known fact and now some talk to u we have big brother over here u have a frakin britsh god police watching u google it **

# if u — Guest 2007-06-13 09:51

if u take this comment down i will spam every entry using a proxy server u fing morons 4 of my posts in 10 mins u'll suck

# ! — Guest 2007-06-13 09:53

blair extols the art of commenting while saying nothing. The church can go to hell!

# . — Guest 2007-06-13 09:53

the western world is all the same if you ask me...run by beurocrats who try to turn the pissed off public into their corporate slaves.

# wow...that makes us look really good... — Guest 2007-06-13 09:59

the fact is the entire western world has been run by beurocracy and corporate interests since the beginning of the industrial revolution. soon enough the entire western front will go bankrupt and china will lead as the next super power. of course the US of A are gona try to be cowboys and fight back, and then we'll loose to 2 billion people, not before sending out a few nukes. Ron Paul for president '08, he's one of the only politicians in america right now who champions the original rightings of the constition and will restore this country to how our forefathers imagined it, not run with lies but with honest policy and self government. and this is coming from a democrat.

# Youths? — Guest 2007-06-13 10:01

I've sworn this game is aimed for adults.. age rating is there for a reason!!

# Not Iraq — Guest 2007-06-13 10:33

And what Blair is doing in Iraq is not bad taste?

Go and play with your toy soldiers Blair, and leave the games for what they are... Games.

# ha — Guest 2007-06-13 11:11

Wel ofcource he would support the church.

But i dont think he added his own tw cents in the argument, more like his own 2 pence!

# sonys tactic — Guest 2007-06-13 11:31

Is it Sonys tactic to be controversial. It does get them in the news, and they have been in it alot recently.

# actually — Guest 2007-06-13 11:38

actually the game in england can be played by 15+ yr olds

# Hey I saw The movie the Queen — Guest 2007-06-13 11:44

In the movie The Queen(2006) set in 1997- Tony Blair has a Playstation in his house.

# STUPID — Guest 2007-06-13 11:58

This is so *****ing stupid i hate all religion the church is full of old moany bastards. Also im scotish stop saying british, its *****ing anoying because this is englands crap. When you hear british it has nothing to do with scotland, wales or irland, its always england moaning about ***** bunch of pricks

# Reality Vs Rubbish — Guest 2007-06-13 12:49

3 short facts.

1, The American War of Independance - 2/3rds of all people fighting for the US of so on were French. The French also bankrolled that war, that fact caused the French Revolution.

2. American involvment in WW1 was near-as-makes-no-difference nothing. Ziltch. Nowt.

3. Historians, solidiers and the people alive at the time say that the turning point of WW2 was The Battle of Britian, as this was the first time that Germany had been stopped. Wheile there were some Americans flying in the RAF at the time they were out numbered by people from... India, Canada, the Caribean, Australia, many of the *****ires that make up Africa.

Yes we have the highest proportion of CCTV cameras to people in the UK, but we are the only country on the face on the planet with a falling figure for car crime and muggings.

Back on topic... If the CoE does manage to pin Sony on copyright infringment, then i think Sony should counter sue the CoE for the use of the homophone "Praystation"

# Tired of this sh1t — Guest 2007-06-13 12:52

Violence?

What about the inquisition?

Religion my ass...

This stupid church can explode and take all the people that follow this sh1t with it...

# everybody knows — Quixand 2007-06-13 14:47

Tony Blair bought a Wii last Saturday.

# Easy money? — Guest 2007-06-13 21:21

Obviously the church of England is just after some easy money here. Pathetic, hypocritical bastards...

# eh? — Guest 2007-06-13 21:37

there is a photograph of tony blairs wife cherie on a trip to the U.S with a playstation3 under her arm. Will try and get a link. Wonder what launch games she bought? \o/

# I'm American... — CHUCKINGROCKSATSPACESHIPS 2007-06-13 23:36

so shut up moron! Quite dissing the British asswipe! Stick your foot in your mouth some more. You must be a child if you don't know how history really was.

# Well said — Guest 2007-06-14 05:23

We should start a damn clan or somthing lol. Hell no there not gonna limit my rights.

# History — Guest 2007-06-14 05:31

People in the past get me pissed off... Im American but i hate some things in America right now.

In Mgs2 if you remember the 1 guy said its not in nature to remember history, but if we dont know it could repeat itself

# idiot — Guest 2007-06-14 05:37

Anything wrong with tea and crumpets?

# enough — Guest 2007-06-14 05:39

I think thers enough comments about this issue

# Even at 15 — Guest 2007-06-14 05:40

i think there smart enough not to play with guns...unless there dumbas5 parents dont raise them well enough

# ok... — Guest 2007-06-14 05:42

u goth...

# ... — Guest 2007-06-14 09:16

the only reason the battle of britain was the turning point was because britain is on a damn island and germany couldnt bring their tanks there. Us Americans came over to europe to stop massive chaos...twice.

# Rant — Guest 2007-06-14 10:28

Oh ***** the Church; and the Queen too. Burn in hell you aristocratic *****!

# church — Guest 2007-06-14 11:09

pretty much the whole gaming community is on SONYs side here its not like the game is telling you 2 go shoot up a church I HAVE THE GAME i know exactly what the game does w/ manchester cathedral it doesnt offend me at all WHAT ABOUT YOU

Refresh comments list

Add comment

JComments

HOT GAMING NEWS | LATEST GAMING SEARCHES | FORUMS

QUICK JUMP DAILY DIGEST

Welcome to QJ.Net!

If you want your comments to go live without waiting for moderation, you need to be logged in. Being logged in has its benefits:

Logged in members do not wait for their comments to be approved.
Logged in members can create Profiles to be seen by other users.

So why wait? Create an account or login now! It's easy, quick, and free.

To get started, use the LOGIN boxes, or the REGISTER link below!

Want to learn more about the team who brings you the QJ news?

Read about them now!

HOT FLASH GAMES

QJ.NET Categories
• Apple • E3 • Featured Articles • Gadgets • Games for Windows • iPad • iPhone • MMORPG • Mobile • News • Nintendo 3DS • Nintendo DS • Opinions & Analysis	• Photography • PlayStation 3 • PoV • PS Vita • PSP • Rumors • Science • Site News • Tabula Rasa • Wii • Wii U • World of Warcraft • Xbox 360

Sitemap

Newest Downloads

05/22/2012 - 05/31/2012

XeBuild GUI 2.061	05/30/2012
edicpopDS v0.3.01	05/29/2012
RGLoader 0v290 Beta	05/27/2012
WiiMod 3.2	05/27/2012
WiiMC v1.2.7	05/25/2012
True Blue Firmeware v2.7	05/24/2012
3DS Video Converter v2.3	05/24/2012
Mobile Assault 1.8.2	05/24/2012
PSP Tools Alpha 0.1	05/22/2012
Newton War	05/22/2012
DaedalusX64 r766	05/22/2012
PSPMarble	05/22/2012
The Undead 4 - Nazi Zombies	05/21/2012
3DSExplorer v1.2.1	05/21/2012
J-Runner v0.2 Beta 275	05/19/2012

Most Comments this Month
Sound Off: On Game Expirat..	(58)
Say Goodbye to the Xbox 36..	(31)
EA Blames iOS Rock Band Ex..	(28)
Flash0 Contents Of Vita's..	(27)
Sony Had a Rough Year; Vit..	(26)
PlayStation 3: Now Featuri..	(23)
Sound Off: Toughest Game C..	(20)
Apparently You Can Pre-Ord..	(19)
Love It or Hate It, It's A..	(16)
PoV: This Collectors Editi..	(15)
You've Been Up in Arms Abo..	(15)
Pre-Order Generic Shooter..	(15)
Metal Gear Solid For Vita..	(14)
PoV: Paid MMOs are Dead	(14)
PoV: You Are Wrong about C..	(14)
Get Off Xbox Live, You Ped..	(14)
This is Next Gen?	(14)
Wii Will Be U	(13)
Stop Your Whining, Start C..	(13)
PSP Is Back, Whiter, Cheap..	(13)
Pokemon Liquid Crystal! K..	(12)
OK, So Maybe Microsoft Can..	(12)
Does Microsoft Ever Have a..	(12)
Operation Raccoon City Pro..	(12)
Diablo III Getting Mauled..	(12)

Top Jumps this Month
Naruto Shippuden: Ul..	(175)
Pokemon Liquid Cryst..	(109)
neur0n Knocks Out An..	(103)
Bust Out Your PSP Fo..	(93)
PSP homebrew - LameC..	(73)
Wii homebrew - WAD M..	(57)
PSP Comics Reader v2..	(53)
PSP Homebrew: 6.xx P..	(44)
Hellcat Working On R..	(42)
PSP Homebrew - PSPDi..	(41)
PSP homebrew - DSonP..	(40)
neur0n Gives You Mor..	(37)
Sound Off: On Game E..	(36)
PSP GBA v1.2: Gamebo..	(33)
Latest Left 4 Dead 2..	(32)
Another CFW Goodie F..	(30)
Soywiz Releases PSP..	(30)
Sound Off: Should Ap..	(29)
GTA IV patch 1.0.6.0..	(29)
Download full Sid Me..	(28)
Homebrew - PSP/PS3 P..	(26)
Brian Lara Internati..	(23)
PSP homebrew - Mario..	(23)
DS homebrew game - S..	(21)
Metal Gear Solid For..	(21)

HOT GAMING NEWS TOPICS

Quick Jump Daily Digest

Tony Blair comments on the Church of England's complaints against Sony

Related Stories:

Comments

Add comment

Newest Downloads