In a recent letter from President Rick Loomis to the GAMA membership, GAMA announced that it will not be enforcing its ban on Internet discounters on the exhibit floor of Origins in 2003.  That policy, introduced as a resolution by WizKids EVP Martin Stever last summer (see 'WizKids Campaigns Against Internet Discounting'), was passed by the GAMA membership.  The decision not to enforce the ban was made by the GAMA Board of Directors based on advice of counsel that prohibiting Internet discounters from exhibiting could open the organization to expensive litigation.  The motion that was passed read as follows:  'Resolved:  Every effort should be made to exclude any person or business who is regularly engaged in the business of deep discount retailing of games via the Internet from participating at Origins as an exhibitor.' 

 

Loomis letter indicated the Board's support for full price retailing as a concept, and suggested means short of force to achieve the goal.  'Ultimately, your Board believes that the best solution to the problem of heavy discounting on the Internet is education of members and potential members of the disadvantages to all (including the discounter) caused by this practice.  We welcome any information from members that we can post on the GAMA Web site or include in our educational materials or in the seminars at GTS on this subject.' 

 

Loomis also acknowledged that the topic was still open, and said that he was appointing a special committee to review Origins exhibitor policies and report to the membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting at Origins 2003.  He also said that there would be 'strict' enforcement of manufacturer exclusivity at the show.