A little FYI

[kdalton]

As our European customers are aware, many countries there, Germany most of all, have enacted laws that ban the image of the swastika in the aftermath of World War II.

It has come to our attention that in the wake of the arrest of someone for owning a game (not sure it was one of ours) containing the image of a swastika on a game component in Germany, at least one of our retailers there is going through MMP games he has ordered and marking out SS symbols on counters and scenario cards and any swastikas (if any) found.

To the best of our knowledge, the SS symbol (like on SS counters in ASL) are not illegal, but we have an e-mail from at least one player whose counters were marked on to remove the SS symbol.

If you should recieve an MMP game with such modifications and have questions, please contact the retailer who sold the game. This is not MMP policy.

Please be aware that MMP strives to live in compliance with all international laws and ethical standards. While our boxes and magazine covers are double-checked to ensure compliance with the swastika ban, we are going to start taking a hard look at scenario card art and any future product printings to ensure the swastika is never shown. We will not remove the SS symbols from ASL counters at this time as they are not illegal to our knowledge.

Thanks,

Keith

[Aries]

Sucks, sucks large.

But to all those that will rail against this, remember, freedom of speech is not a universal international concept.

Further, if a company wishes to sell inside another, that has laws in place that stipulate, though shalt not do (insert condition here), you get a choice, make some money, do it there way, or suck it up, and get no sales there.

I don't think swasticas and the SS runes are "vital" to the playing of a game. Only a totally shielded individual will be unaware of what those icons meant. And people that shielded are unlikely to be wargamers.

[M.Koch]

Like the swastika, it is not allowed tho show, wear etc. the SS runes in Germany.
But, please, don´t remove them from the counters...

MK

[Swiftandsure]

I think these rules are particularily strict in Germany.
I don't think they would apply here in Switzerland or in France.
Here we have laws against encouraging racial discrimination of war crimes apology : that is rather about the ideas expressed than about images.

[Kevin Kenneally]

I remember someone from France pointing this out on the ASLML.

The individual explained that his country considers that symbol (SS) to be illegal.

Thank you Keith for informing us of this dilemma.

[Canadian Dude]

Yes it seems silly in some ways but we must respect that the Swastick represents quite a bit of bad (even if it wasn't bad before the Nazi party adopted it). If countries have laws against, then just dont put it in the products any more, (like kdalton said).

As for SS troops, if those fall into it too, then take em' off. I can't see it being that important. Wow, you loose a little symbole on the counter. Not a big loss.

Thanks for the FYI.

- The Canadian Dude

[Wik]

As for SS troops, if those fall into it too, then take em' off. I can't see it being that important. Wow, you loose a little symbole on the counter. Not a big loss.

Sounds like a great excuse to go back to differentiating SS troops with black counters!

- Chad

[PBM]

Sounds like a great excuse to go back to differentiating SS troops with black counters!

Better check first to make sure the color black is not illegal somewhere in Europe.

[Swiftandsure]

Better check first to make sure the color black is not illegal somewhere in Europe.

I am quite sure being black was not appreciated in some southern parts in the USA some years ago...

[M.Koch]

I am quite sure being black was not appreciated in some southern parts in the USA some years ago...

Even today...

MK