Cliff Stearns: “recently the Federal Trade Commission released a study on the marketing practices of different sectors of the…”

“recently the Federal Trade Commission released a study on the marketing practices of different sectors of the entertainment industry. The report finds movie and video game companies have made ``commendable'' progress since last year, placing limits on ads for violent games and movies in popular teen media and disclosing those ratings in its ads. Regrettably, however, the commission found that only the music industry continues to place no restrictions on what materials it can market to underaged children in magazines, on TV, radio and over the Internet. While the music industry labels its products, one of the FTC commissioners stated it correctly: ``I think it is hypocritical for the music industry to claim it is helping parents by placing a parental label on CDs, while at the same time undermining parents by aggressively marketing the same CD to children.'' When industry fails to institute meaningful self-regulation and act responsibly, I, both as a parent and a member of the community, believe government has an obligation.”