Markings provide consumers with ready access to clear classification information to inform their choices about films, computer games and some publications. In this guide, you'll find general requirements for the display of markings on advertising and cross-promotions.
It is a legal requirement to display markings and consumer advice.
The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) (Markings and Consumer Advice) Determination 2014 (the Determination) sets out rules for what the markings look like and how they should be displayed.
Display classification markings
General rules:
- Content must display the correct classification marking and consumer advice.
- Markings should be displayed on the lower left corner on the front face or close to the title.
- Markings must be prominent and easy to see and read.
- If displayed on a screen markings must be displayed for a sufficient amount of time to allow the marking to be read in full.
- Film or computer game markings must be in the format and proportions shown in Schedule 1; publication markings must be in the format and proportions shown in Schedule 2.
- If the publication, film or computer game is a physical product, the marking must be displayed on the physical product.
- If it would not be practicable to display the marking and consumer advice because of the type of format of the content, the marking must be displayed before the point of purchase or before the point of access.
Markings for advertising classified films and computer games
General rules for films and computer games:
- a printed advertisement must display the combination box or, if the combination box would not be legible, the classification symbol square or rectangle that applies to the film or computer game (see Schedule 1)
- a printed advertisement for multiple films and computer games must display the markings as stated above and a legend that lists all classification and the classification descriptions
- an advertisement on a screen, whether a still or moving image, must display the combination box, or if the combination box would not be legible, the classification symbol square or rectangle applicable to the film or computer game and the consumer advice relating to the film or computer game.
- a physical product that contains only advertisements for one or more films or computer games must display:
- the combination box or, if the combination box would not be legible, the classification symbol square or classification symbol rectangle that applies to the film or computer game that has the highest classification, and
- if the title of any of the films or computer games advertised is listed on the back of the physical product, next to each title:
- the classification symbol square or classification symbol or classification character applicable to the film and computer game and
- if practicable, the consumer advice relating to the film or computer game.
Markings for advertising classified publications
General rules for publications:
- a printed advertisement for a classified film must display the markings set out in Part 2 of Schedule 2; and
- the markings shall be increased or reduced in size and scale, along with the rest of the material included in the advertisement; and
- the markings shall remain in proportion to that material included in the advertisement based upon the publication’s front cover scale.
Cross-promotion guidelines
Some products are required to display classification markings even though the product itself does not require classification. This occurs when products that do not require classification, i.e. products that are not films or computer games and the product includes a reference to a film or computer game or a reference to the film or computer game being available for viewing, playing, sale or hire.
For example, a meal container that includes both food and a classified computer game, or a cereal box containing a classified film on a DVD, or a newspaper with a collection of movie trailers on a DVD. In such situations, the product or its packaging, (such as the meal container or cereal box or newspaper) must carry classification markings required as if the advertisement were an advertisement for a film or computer game.
Another example could be a meal box that makes reference to a specific computer game as being available for purchase or hire on a certain date, or a television commercial for a drink product that refers to a specific film being shown in cinemas.
What the markings look like
You can see all of the markings for films, computer games and publications, including the font and placement of consumer advice in the Markings Determination.