U.K. launches trade war over video game industry

[Mugu]

Randy Boswell, With file from Marke Andrews, Canwest News Service

With billions of dollars at stake in the entertainment world's fastest-growing business, the British government is launching a trade battle with Canada over tax credits being used to expand this country's video game industry.

For months, British companies have been decrying the exodus of European game developers to Ontario, Quebec and B.C., where tax incentives are attracting multimillion-dollar investments and thousands of highly skilled foreign workers, whose talents are fuelling the Canadian industry's exponential growth.

"The Canadians have driven a tank over the French Citroen and have now parked on our lawn," Paul Jackson, head of the industry organization representing British games studios, complained to the Financial Times earlier this week. "It is becoming very challenging to keep core development studios here."

Now, the U.K. Ministry of Culture, Media and Sport has formally initiated an investigation of Canada's trade practices through the European Commission, a British government spokesperson told Canwest News Service on Thursday.


Complete article at:
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=7a0baad7-377c-41c8-9d0c-bde81ea26c4d

[SpiralHawk]

1. Blame Canada !

Those wily digital denizens of the Great White North

[Bonobo]

2. I may be wrong but I think Ubisoft has gotten some help from France as well...

Shit look at Vivendi! They used to sell water!

Don't tell me the French Govt. didn't help them.