from Wikipedia:
The main tasks of the FSK are approving and rating
movies and
trailers,
videos and
DVDs, and
commercials.
There is no legal obligation for approval by the FSK; however, members of the SPIO commit themselves to only releasing productions passed by the FSK. Movies not rated by the FSK may only be sold and rented to adults, regardless of their content.
The legal basis for the actions of the FSK are a youth protection law (JuSchG, Jugendschutzgesetz), the holiday regulations and basic principles of the FSK. These principles are issued by the Basic Principles Commission, consisting of 20 representatives from the film and video industry, public authorities and state-funded broadcasting stations governed by public law.
The FSK takes into account whether or not a film is shown on certain specially protected holidays mentioned in the
Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. These are
Good Friday,
All Saints,
Volkstrauertag (Memorial Day),
Buß- und Bettag (
Penance Day) and also
Totensonntag (the German
Remembrance Sunday).
The FSK is financially autonomous and funds its work through fees from every inspected media carrier. It is operated as an affiliate of the SPIO in the form of a private limited company; however, the SPIO does not influence its decisions.
