tinyE: I love it when someone in Germany complains about someone else being racist. I am NOT NOR WOULD I EVER insinuate anything regarding yourself, all I'm saying is that historicaly you aren't exactly seated in the hub of racial equity and harmony.
Hey, that comment is racist! :P
Oh and I guess it's also
racist that they won't let me buy Wolfenstein 3D over the internet (or any other of their games for that matter). Why can't I enjoy shooting nazis just because I'm a German? ;)
the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin that has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life.
Protoss: My emphasis, definition by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
I would see the same access to social and cultural goods as a fundamental freedom.
But of course Warner Bros. is fine because the United States did not sign the convention.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_the_Elimination_of_All_Forms_of_Racial_Discrimination If I was to assume the case you complain about is affected by this convention, then the US would be wise not to sign it. But I think it's safer to assume that you completely misinterpret the meaning of it.
This is not what they mean by social or cultural good, it's first and foremost a
commercial good, and not even an essential one, more of a luxury good. You won't get marginalized in society because you're not able to play it right away, and the reason that you don't get access to it yet has nothing to do with "race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin" but with commercial aspects, licenses, the laws of your country etc.
Also, what SimonG said. It's harmful to water down the meaning of "racism". You don't seriously want to compare you having to wait for a couple of months in order to play a game because you're currently not residing in the US to someone being abused and denied essential rights because of the color of their skin. I feel ridiculous just for even discussing it with you.