Why is it important for producers to have an understanding of the legal constraints?
It is important for producers to have an understanding of legal constraints so that they don't run into breaking one of these law's when producing work as it could end up with prosecution or even worse, they need to know if broadcasting or publishing something untrue, that can damage someone's reputation can end up getting them sued for alot of money by the person that it was about. They also need to know that they can not produce anything that is likely to deprave and corrupt as they cannot produce something that lawyers havent checked over before being released incase of to much sexually explicit, violence or drug taking as if it is and it is broadcasted the film can be banned from the country and also the producers can be took to court. They also need to make sure they don't publish anything that will break the privacy (Human rights Law) as this can lead to the producers company being shut down. Also making sure they do not copy any work from other producers without permission as they other producers can take them to court and get them sued for not having copyrights. The last thing they need to know is not to publish information from someone's phone or hack into something that is private and none of their business as this could lead to company closure also.
OBSCENEITY LAW
The definition of this is content that is "likely to deprave and corrupt" the audience for which it is intended. Lawyers may need to hceck whether a production breaks this law before it is released. Content such as sexually explitcit, violent and/or drug taking is reviewed for suitability. Decisions are made dependent on factors such as age range of the audience, the time a production is broadcast.
An example of this is the Human Centipede 2 was band in the UK for being related to sexual violence, graphic gore, breach of law relating to obscenity.
LIBEL LAW
You can be sued for damages if you publish or broadcast things about a person which are untrue and damage their reputation (defame them) The law was created to protect individuals or organisations from unwarranted, mistaken or untruthful attacks on their repuatation.
An example of this is Lord McAlpine as someone tweeted that he was part of a paedophile ring which targeted children at a care home in Wrexham, he pursued Sally Bercow wife of commons speakers John over comments she made on a social networking site.
PRIVACY LAW HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998
If a media company publishes information about someone which is information that should be considered private, that is to say, information in respect of which you had a 'reasonable expectation of privacy', then legal action for misuse of private information can be brought under the Human Rights Act 1998.
An example of this is a french magazine breaking a law as they put a picture of the Dutchess of Cambridge in their magazine and she was topless sunbathing.
OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT
It is a criminal offence to obtain or publish any information froma serving or former member of the securtiy and intelligence services or from certain categories of civil servants or public contractors where that disclosure would be damaging.
An example of this would be News of the World phone hacking scandel were they hacked into Millie Dowler's phone.
COPYRIGHT AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW
This law exists to protect people's creative endeavours so that they can properly benefit from their work. If such protection didn't exist and people were able to copy or sell or profit from another's work, there would be little incentive for people to create in the first place. Programme-makers are responsible for ensuring that all necessary clearances (copyright, trademarks etc.) have been obtained for their programmes.
An example of this would be Itunes film breaking the copyright law as Russian films are being made available through Apple's Itunes service without the consent of the copyright holders, the films were old favourites Gentlemen of fortune, Assa, The diamond arm, Kin-dza-dza and Cheburashka despite their age the films and cartoons are still protected by copyright.
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