Major Step for Stop Killing Games as EU Hearing Nears
The Stop Killing Games initiative, officially known in documentation as Stop Destroying Videogames, is on the cusp of a crucial milestone: a hearing with the European Commission. Organizers have announced that preliminary reports indicate roughly 97% of the collected signatures are valid, making the Commission hearing all but certain.
The European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) framework allows EU residents to bring specific issues directly to the European Commission. If an initiative successfully gathers one million verified signatures, it is officially presented to the relevant authorities, who then decide on potential legislative action. Stop Killing Games reached this impressive million-signature goal back in the summer, but concerns lingered about the actual number of valid signatures that would be counted.
Founder Ross Scott expressed some worry in July that a significant portion of the signatures might be deemed invalid. However, these fears now appear to be unfounded. Organizers confirm that the signature verification process is well underway, and early reports from several participating countries consistently show a high percentage of valid votes.
Controversy Fuels Support
It's noteworthy that the campaign, which initially seemed to be struggling to gather enough support in June, experienced a sudden surge in popularity. This unexpected boost was largely attributed to a controversial figure—a former Blizzard developer whose outspoken opposition to Stop Killing Games ironically galvanized widespread support for the initiative across the internet, encouraging many more people to sign.
What Happens Next?
The verification process is still ongoing at national levels and is expected to take approximately three more months to complete. Once finished, the initiative's organizers will formally present the petition to the European Commission. This will mark the beginning of the legislative phase, during which the Commission and the European Parliament will determine what measures, if any, to take in response to the Stop Killing Games initiative.
This development is a significant moment for gamers and advocates of game preservation. If successful, the initiative could lead to new regulations safeguarding digital game ownership and preventing titles from being arbitrarily removed or rendered unplayable, offering greater stability and security for players' digital libraries.
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