loCAliZAtion As AdAptAtion in the WOLFENSTEIN frAnChise
213
of video games’ legal treatment illustrates the pitfalls which the production
companies behind the Wolfenstein games aimed to avoid when adjusting
their games to the German market.
Legal reasons for the narrative filtering of Wolfenstein games in
Germany
Two reasons for the indexing and confiscation of Wolfenstein games are
recognized in legal literature. 43 The criteria for indexing pertain to depictions of ultra-violence. 44 The criteria for confiscation, meanwhile, regard
the display of violence and of unconstitutional symbols, e.g. swastikas, 45
indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 224 (2003)); Inc. id Software, Spear of Destiny (FormGen Corp.,
1992): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 62 (1999)); Gray Matter Interactive Studios, Inc. et al., Return
to Castle Wolfenstein (Activision UK, Limited, 2001): indexed ( Bundesanzeiger, no. 41 (2002));
Return to Castle Wolfenstein (DE version): indexed (BAnz. 81, 2002); L.L.C. Raster Productions,
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection (Activision Publishing, Inc., 2003): indexed
(Bundesanzeiger, no. 227 (2004)); L.L.C. Nerve Software et al., Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides
of War (Activision Publishing, Inc.): indexed ( Bundesanzeiger, no. 99 (2007)); Inc. Raven Software
et al., Wolfenstein (Activision UK, Limited, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 164 (2009)); Inc.
Raven Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Pty., Limited, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger,
no. 198 (2009)), and conf iscated (JurionRS 45327 (AG Detmold January 19, 2010); Inc. Raven
Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision UK, Limited, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 10
(2013)); Inc. Raven Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Blizzard Deutschland GmbH, 2014):
distribution in Germany stopped and all media withdrawn by publisher; Inc. Raven Software
et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Korea, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 60 (2010)); Inc. Raven
Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Publishing, Inc., 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 66
(2010)); id Mobile, Wolfenstein RPG (Apple, Inc., 2009): no distribution in Germany by publisher;
Bethesda Game Studios et al., Wolfenstein: The New Order (Bethesda Softworks, L.L.C., 2014):
Non-German versions are not distributed in Germany, as they cannot be downloaded after
purchase from their online distribution platform due to geo-lock; the localized German version
is rated “18” by the USK; MachineGames et al., Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (Bethesda Softworks,
L.L.C., 2015): Non-German versions are not distributed in Germany due to geo-lock; the localized
German version is rated “18” by the USK.
43 Liesching, “Hakenkreuze in Film, Fernsehen und Computerspielen”; Antje Schumann, “Ist
die Ausfuhr von Computerspielen mit NS-Symbolen strafbar? Bemerkungen zu § 86a Abs. 1
Nr. 2 StGB,” Multimedia und Recht 14, no. 7 (2011).
44 JuSchG, § 18, paragraph 1.
45 StGB, §§ 131 and 86a, respectively; id., § 86a, paragraph 1 on the “Use of Symbols of Unconstitutional Organizations” punishes, among other things, production, import, stock (no. 2)
and domestic distribution (no. 1) of certain symbols (no. 2). The law pertains to symbols used
as “means of propaganda, the contents of which are intended to further the aims of a former
National Socialist organization” (no. 4) with “imprisonment for not more than three years or a
fine.” Paragraph 2 further specifies the type of symbols in question: “in particular, flags, insignia,
uniforms, slogans and forms of greeting.” There are three goods, this law aims to protect: 1) the
213
of video games’ legal treatment illustrates the pitfalls which the production
companies behind the Wolfenstein games aimed to avoid when adjusting
their games to the German market.
Legal reasons for the narrative filtering of Wolfenstein games in
Germany
Two reasons for the indexing and confiscation of Wolfenstein games are
recognized in legal literature. 43 The criteria for indexing pertain to depictions of ultra-violence. 44 The criteria for confiscation, meanwhile, regard
the display of violence and of unconstitutional symbols, e.g. swastikas, 45
indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 224 (2003)); Inc. id Software, Spear of Destiny (FormGen Corp.,
1992): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 62 (1999)); Gray Matter Interactive Studios, Inc. et al., Return
to Castle Wolfenstein (Activision UK, Limited, 2001): indexed ( Bundesanzeiger, no. 41 (2002));
Return to Castle Wolfenstein (DE version): indexed (BAnz. 81, 2002); L.L.C. Raster Productions,
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection (Activision Publishing, Inc., 2003): indexed
(Bundesanzeiger, no. 227 (2004)); L.L.C. Nerve Software et al., Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides
of War (Activision Publishing, Inc.): indexed ( Bundesanzeiger, no. 99 (2007)); Inc. Raven Software
et al., Wolfenstein (Activision UK, Limited, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 164 (2009)); Inc.
Raven Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Pty., Limited, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger,
no. 198 (2009)), and conf iscated (JurionRS 45327 (AG Detmold January 19, 2010); Inc. Raven
Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision UK, Limited, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 10
(2013)); Inc. Raven Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Blizzard Deutschland GmbH, 2014):
distribution in Germany stopped and all media withdrawn by publisher; Inc. Raven Software
et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Korea, 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 60 (2010)); Inc. Raven
Software et al., Wolfenstein (Activision Publishing, Inc., 2009): indexed (Bundesanzeiger, no. 66
(2010)); id Mobile, Wolfenstein RPG (Apple, Inc., 2009): no distribution in Germany by publisher;
Bethesda Game Studios et al., Wolfenstein: The New Order (Bethesda Softworks, L.L.C., 2014):
Non-German versions are not distributed in Germany, as they cannot be downloaded after
purchase from their online distribution platform due to geo-lock; the localized German version
is rated “18” by the USK; MachineGames et al., Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (Bethesda Softworks,
L.L.C., 2015): Non-German versions are not distributed in Germany due to geo-lock; the localized
German version is rated “18” by the USK.
43 Liesching, “Hakenkreuze in Film, Fernsehen und Computerspielen”; Antje Schumann, “Ist
die Ausfuhr von Computerspielen mit NS-Symbolen strafbar? Bemerkungen zu § 86a Abs. 1
Nr. 2 StGB,” Multimedia und Recht 14, no. 7 (2011).
44 JuSchG, § 18, paragraph 1.
45 StGB, §§ 131 and 86a, respectively; id., § 86a, paragraph 1 on the “Use of Symbols of Unconstitutional Organizations” punishes, among other things, production, import, stock (no. 2)
and domestic distribution (no. 1) of certain symbols (no. 2). The law pertains to symbols used
as “means of propaganda, the contents of which are intended to further the aims of a former
National Socialist organization” (no. 4) with “imprisonment for not more than three years or a
fine.” Paragraph 2 further specifies the type of symbols in question: “in particular, flags, insignia,
uniforms, slogans and forms of greeting.” There are three goods, this law aims to protect: 1) the