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OCR Page 1 of 60THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
5-18-99
THE WHITE HOUSE
Copied
Reed
WASHINGTON
May 14, 1999
Tanden
Podesta
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
Bruce Reed
Neera Tanden
RE:
Ratings Systems for Different Media
This memorandum provides you with information on the ratings system for media, ranging from
movies to software.
Movies: All films are rated by a division of the Motion Picture Association of America
(MPAA). In 1968, the MPAA adopted the Voluntary Movie Ratings System, which advises
audiences about the age-appropriateness of films and limits minors' access to films with adult
themes. The ratings board is currently composed of eleven members, all employed by MPAA.
The Voluntary Ratings System currently provides for five ratings categories: G, PG, PG-13, R
and NC-17 (see attached list). The rationale for a particular movie rating is provided in movie
ads on the Internet and in newspapers, but not in ads on television. For example, on the Internet,
a parents' rating guide is available that describes what aspect of the movie -- e.g., strong
language, sexuality, or horror violence earned the film its rating.
Movie Advertising and Trailers: All movie advertising is approved or disapproved by the
Motion Picture Association of America. The same set of standards that govern movies
themselves also applies to advertising for movies that appears in magazines, newspapers,
billboards, radio, and television. A different, stricter set of standards governs movie trailers.
Trailers are approved for either general audience release ("G" / "PG") or for restricted audience
release ("R"). "G" / "PG"-rated trailers are for movies that have been rated either "G," "PG,"
"PG-13," "R," or "NC-17" by the MPAA. Restricted trailers can play in a theatre only if it is
playing an "R," or "NC-17"-rated feature. The approval or disapproval of trailers is based on
their suitability for viewing by children. "G" / "PG"-rated trailers cannot show any nudity or
drugs, and can only show mild depictions of violence. "R"-rated trailers are less restrictive and
can display some depictions of nudity and drugs, as well as some violence (though the act of
pointing a gun to a character's head is prohibited).
Television: In 1997, ABC, CBS and most cable networks agreed to display age-based ratings on
all television programs except news, sports and unedited movies on premium movie channels.
The original ratings system indicated only whether a program was age-appropriate; the system
was later modified to include information on whether a program contains violence, sexual
content, or explicit language (see attached list). In 1998, the Federal Communications
Relations
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