A legal loophole could allow the banned computer game Manhunt 2 to be released online, it has been reported.
The controversial game, developed by Edinburgh-based company Rockstar, was refused a rating and effectively banned in the UK by film censors for the "overly bleak tone and casual encouragement of unnecessary and casual sadism".
The 1984 Video Recordings Act, however, covers only physical products, as it was written with video cassettes in mind, and so experts believe a legal grey area exists which could be exploited by the company.
A download is not a physical product, and it has been suggested the game could therefore be released as a download for consoles such as the Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii, both of which already have online stores for owners to download games.
The company has not said whether this is an avenue it is likely to explore, and is currently still waiting on an appeal against the film censors' decision, in the hope that the game can be released for general sale.
A censored version of the game is set to be released in America on Wednesday.