The IFCO charges distributors more than $16 per minute to review films to be rated, and the adult video industry argues that with this cost, it's nearly impossible to make profit from selling the titles in stores.
Ireland is one of the few European countries that does not license adult retailers. Instead, the Video Recordings Act requires all titles be given an official rating by the IFCO — but with licensing costs so high, many shop owners bypass this law, leading to occasional police raids and video seizures.
The IFCO is seeking judicial review, arguing that it has the right to have a role in the distribution of films.
This report follows a recent acknowledgment by the IFCO that online distribution of unclassified movies created and sold in countries unaffected by Ireland's censorship laws is threatening the organization's power over film regulation.
