Due to a government blunder, retailers who sell adult entertainment (such as videogames) to minors no longer face the threat of legal action.

Videogame age classifications have been in the spotlight quite a lot recently following the announcement that PEGI will become the sole classification system for videogames in the UK. However, due to a recently discovered legal blunder, it seems that the age classifications across the entertainment industry will no longer be legally enforceable in the UK.

It has come to light that the 1984 Video Recordings Act was never brought to the attention of the European Commission. Retailers who sell adult entertainment such as 18-rated videogames to minors will no longer face legal action until the Government can bring in emergency legislation to rectify this legal error.

The Government's Department Of Media, Culture and Sport revealed that it would take at least three months for the re-enacted law to be brought to the attention of the European Commission, meaning that the law will not be legally enforceable over the Q4 period and the Christmas holidays in the UK.

GAME and HMV confirmed today that they would remain committed to enforcing age ratings in their stores. The Entertainment Retail Association also pledged that its members (Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's, GAME and HMV, among others) "will continue to ensure inappropriate material does not get into the hands of children".

Ian Livingstone, the President of videogame publisher Eidos, spoke out today on the Government blunder, and called the incident an 'opportunity' for the industry to act responsibly. Says Mr. Livingstone in regards to the news: "I think the Government's blunder gives the industry the opportunity to demonstrate once again that it takes its responsibilities seriously and would not in any way encourage or endorse the selling of inappropriate material to young consumers. We are used to self-regulation and can be trusted as an industry."

Codemasters' CEO Rod Cousens made a similar statement earlier today, adding that certain MPs must be feeling a little red-faced by these recent developments after earlier criticisms of the games industry.