Motion Picture Association

The MPA traces its origins to 1916, when the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry was formed, but its modern incarnation began in 1922 as the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America (MPPDA), led by former postmaster general Will H. Hays. The Hays Office enforced the Production Code from 1930 to 1968, a set of moral guidelines that shaped Hollywood content. In 1945, the organization became the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and in 2019 it rebranded as the Motion Picture Association to reflect its global scope.¹ The association has historically lobbied for copyright protection, tax incentives, and trade policies favorable to the industry.

The MPA administers the voluntary film rating system, introduced in 1968 as a replacement for the Production Code. The current categories are G, PG, PG-13, R, and NC-17, with PG-13 added in 1984 and NC-17 in 1990. Ratings are assigned by the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA), a board of parents who review films and provide reasons for each rating. The system is not mandatory, but most theaters enforce it, and many studios alter films to secure a desired rating, particularly PG-13 for box-office appeal.² Critics have noted inconsistencies and a perceived bias toward violence over sexual content.

Beyond ratings, the MPA leads global anti-piracy efforts, operating the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) since 2017, a coalition that targets illegal streaming and torrent sites. The association also advocates for copyright enforcement in trade agreements, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and lobbies against online piracy legislation like SOPA. Its international arm, the Motion Picture Association International, works with governments to protect intellectual property and open markets for U.S. films. The MPA's member studios include Netflix, Paramount, Sony, Universal, Disney, and Warner Bros., reflecting the shift to streaming.³

The MPA's predecessor, the MPPDA, was founded in response to a wave of scandals and public criticism, and its first president, Will H. Hays, was a political figure with no film background. The Production Code was never legally binding but was enforced through a seal of approval that theaters refused to show without. The rating system initially had only four categories; X was later replaced by NC-17, but the X rating became associated with pornography and was abandoned. The MPA also operates the Title Registration Bureau, which helps studios secure film titles, and it has a long history of lobbying against antitrust regulations, including the 1948 Paramount Decree that forced studios to divest their theater chains.⁴

CARA

Classification and Rating Administration, the MPA board that assigns film ratings.

Production Code

A set of moral guidelines for film content, enforced from 1930 to 1968.

ACE

Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment, an MPA-led anti-piracy coalition.