It's a legal requirement as per the 1984 & 2010 Video Recordings Acts for the age ratings certificate to be present on any disks and packaging, so they have to put it on.
I'm well aware of what the law is regarding the placing of age ratings on video products in the UK. However, with collectible packaging, that can and should be done with removable stickers, so that the artwork is not permanently marred, as is the case here.
These 'GOT' releases are from Warner who have frequently used removable ratings stickers on their UK Steelbook releases. There's no reason why they couldn't have done so here.
Had they done so, they would have both complied with the law and also respected the aesthetics of the artwork. The sleeve is transparent for a reason.
I doubt anyone likes having them plastered on and at least they're only on the outer packaging. Could be worse.
You would think so but surprisingly, that is clearly not the case. Check the threads for the UK releases of the "Back to the Future" Trilogy, the "Reservoir Dogs" Mondo and various other new UK releases, where there have been interminable exchanges as to the perceived differences between the UK and European editions, and you will find at least two members who have stated categorically that they like having the UK age ratings printed on the various slips, etc. Makes them more collectible, apparently. I'm not going to directly quote those posts here, as I've no desire to see that endless tit-for-tat exchange resurrected in this thread, but they're clearly there for all to see.
I stand by what I have written. With removable stickers, it's possible to uphold the law as well as respect the intentions of the artist.
