Report: Global publisher killed UK games tax break


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June 24th, 2010 @ 18:11

By Stephany Nunneley

Sources close to Develop claim that one of the world?s largest game publishers is to blame for UK?s games tax break getting canned.

Insiders close to the situation said the company ?exerted pressure on the UK government and British trade associations to abandon plans for UK tax breaks,? by persuading Parliament allies to ?dissuade any legislative measures?.

The company, Develop was told, was worried that the tax breaks would give the UK sector an ?unfair advantage over other nations?.

Responding to the allegation, TIGA has called for ?cross-industry unanimity? regarding the claim.

?TIGA has campaigned rigorously for two years for Games Tax Relief,? CEO Richard Wilson told Develop. ?We will not give up, and we ask publishers to join us.?

Earlier in the week, UK Chancellor George Osborne announced that tax breaks promised by the former Labour-run government would not move forward, prompting a response from TIGA which stated that the measure would see the UK ?forfeit millions of pounds in inward investment?.

More through the links.

http://www.vg247.com/2010/06/24/report-global-publisher-killed-games-tax-break-for-uk/#more-104151

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My bet would be Activ. The root of all evil tbh.

EA were all for support of the tax breaks in Canada & opened a new studio there iirc. Can't see them being supportive for one country and not another.

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Same boat as EA, they just opened the new studio in Canada for Jade Raymond's crew

Ah **** it *jumps on the bandwagon* DOWN WITH BOBBY K!

Ubisoft have the guys from Reflections working on Driver, it wouldn't help them. :F

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Well...it wasn't Activision after all...

Activision joins UK tax break fight

Monday 28-Jun-2010 2:16 PM Publisher joins campaign, says UK is in "real disadvantage" without tax relief

Activision Blizzard is the latest publisher to join trade association, TIGA's campaign to secure tax relief for UK game developers.

Last week the Coalition Government revealed that it has retracted Labour's "poorly targeted" proposal for the UK games tax relief, claiming that the move will save the UK £190 million over the next five years.

However, Activision Blizzard - which has two UK-based studios; Blur creator, Bizarre Creations and DJ Hero dev, FreeStyleGames - says that British game houses are now left in a "real disadvantage" compared to other countries without the break.

Activision's exec VP, George Rose said of the move: "At Activision Blizzard we are extremely supportive of TIGA's campaign to secure Games Tax Relief for the UK development community. The UK has one of the most talented and creative workforces anywhere in the industry.

"The introduction of Games Tax Relief in the UK will be a game changer. It will make the UK a significantly more attractive place to invest in games development. Games Tax Relief will lead to increased investment, more job creation and power economic growth."

He continued: "However, if Games Tax Relief is not introduced then the UK will remain at a real disadvantage in comparison to other territories as a location for inward investment. Without Games Tax Relief the UK games industry will not fulfill its potential."

Originally both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats went on record to support the initiative, after Labour announced plans in its March Budget to offer the tax breaks.

Labour's shadow culture secretary, Ben Bradshaw has since told CVG he is "astonished" over the Coalition Government's decision to scrap the tax incentives, which could potentially hurt our developers in the long run.

Andy Robinson

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=253649

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Interesting, it could be anyone to be honest.

If a Tax Break made everything in one country unfair in comparison. I would say it wasn't an evil company, but maybe a good one who just wants everything to be fair. I'm thinking Nintendo here but I'm not sure.

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Activision and Sony to re-think UK industry support

June 29th, 2010 @ 23:34

By Stephany Nunneley

Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has warned that the company will cease to invest in the UK should the government fail to provide incentives or tax relief to the games industry.

The company, which owns UK studios Bizarre Creations and FreeStyleGames, recently joined TIGA with Kotick telling the Financial Times that something needs to be done.

?For us to continue to invest in the UK there needs to be an incentive provided for us to do so,? he said. ?The talent pool in the UK is among the best in the world for what we do. But we really need to see some more incentives.

?We are seeing great incentives in Canada, Singapore and eastern bloc countries.?

Sony UK head Ray Maguire is of the same thought, telling the paper the firm would continue with existing projects in the UK, but future projects ?would have to be looked at?, adding that upcoming projects planned for the UK could possibly ?go abroad?.

Six of Sony?s 15 studios are located in the UK, including Evolution Studios, Media Molecule, and SCE London to name a few.

Last week, it was announced that Chancellor George Osborne had canceled UK videogame tax relief and incentives, despite pre-election pledges made by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, the Labour Party and the Scottish National Party in support for games tax relief.

It was also rumored that a global publisher with incentives outside the UK sector had thrown a wrench in the incentive, but TIGA CEO Dr Richard Wilson laid the blame squarely at the feet of the UK Treasury.

http://www.vg247.com/2010/06/29/activision-and-sony-to-re-think-uk-industry-support

For once Activi are being the good guy!

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