게임물 등급분류 개념의 문제점 : 게임물의 운영방식․이용방식과 등급분류의 대상으로서의 내용과의 법적 관계를 중심으로

Legal Relationship between Operation Mode & Use Method of Game Products and Contents as Object of Classification is as in the following. Contents means a message or an expression in principle. But despite the title of Game Contents Classification of The Act on Promotion of Game Industry, this is composed of dual structure called image product classification aimed at youth protection and instrument examination system aimed at speculation prevention. So this can be included to extended concept of content that is uniform method of operation that has its roots in ‘instrument and equipment’ besides message or expression that has its roots in ‘image product.’Game business should operate game products because they constantly provide game services. The operation mode of game products does not correspond to contents in principle. But operation mode of game products can be included to contents only when operation mode of game product is united with realization of contents which has basis in law. Examining rules related to operation of The Act on Promotion of Game Industry, the operation mode of game products related to gambling simulation is included to extended concept of content. The operation mode of gambling simulation is hard to see as a message or expression itself because it operates ‘instrument and equipment’, it can be contents because it is united with realization of contents and registered to game users. The use of game products that game users do does not correspond to the contents in principle. The change of use method of game product itself does not mean different contents compared to classified contents but it can be a object of report of content modification. But it can be new game product if game users realize this as a different game product because the use method of game product has changed remarkably.