About the Interactive Software Federation of Europe
The interactive software industry, which includes PC and video games, reference and educational works on CD-ROM, is the European content industry's fastest growing sector with a turnover of Euro 6.1 billion in 2005, to be compared to a Euro 22.5 billion world market. It is estimated that, in 2006, the European market will reach Euro 7.25 billion. As a matter of comparison, Interactive Software weighs already as much as the EU's film video market, and significantly more than its box office market.
ISFE (the Interactive Software Federation of Europe) was established in 1998 to represent the interests of the interactive software sector vis-à-vis the EU and international institutions. Initially founded by the national interactive software trade associations in the UK, France, Germany and the Netherlands, ISFE was enlarged in January 2002 to include any company representing the industry within the 27 Member States plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Thirteen major publishers of interactive software and thirteen interactive software trade associations throughout Europe have joined ISFE.
Registered in 2002 under Belgian law as an international association with scientific and pedagogical purposes, ISFE represents the interest of its membership to the main stakeholders, be they EU institutions, international organizations, academics, or the general public. This objective is pursued through a variety of actions, one on one meetings, conferences, sponsorship, etc. Since 2003, ISFE has also been running the Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) system (see www.pegi.info), a successful experiment in self-regulation.
Located in Brussels, the ISFE secretariat is managed by Patrice Chazerand, secretary general.
David Sweeney is providing senior legal counsel.
Jürgen Bänsch is EU Affairs Manager.
Katja Mader is Marketing Manager.
Catherine Geeroms is in charge of Games and Education.
Martine Vandamme is PA to Patrice Chazerand.