When we think of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), most of us think movie ratings. First and foremost, though, the organization represents the interests of the American motion picture, home video and television industries both in the US and internationally (as the MPA). The MPAA works to protect the work of those in the film and related industries through advocating for protection of creative works and fighting copyright theft, among other things.
It may seem, then, that the MPAA is policing its own industry by providing ratings for the very works it seeks to protect and represent. However, the work of providing ratings for movies is actually done by a board of parents who view each work and vote on a rating. Operating under the MPAA, the 10-13 member board is known as the Classification and Rating Administration (CARA), and the parents who make up the board are charged with the challenge of viewing movies from the point of view of American parents and doing their best to estimate an appropriate rating based on the ratings guidelines.
* To learn more about the mission of and history behind the MPAA, visit the official MPAA website.