When producing our product we needed to consider the legal issues that we had to avoid, the first of these legal issues is copyright infringement, this is if we accidentally copy another intellectual property when in production of our radio drama. Another of these legal issues is misrepresentation of other companies as this could be seen a defamation of character. To play music that have been copyrighted a PRS License is needed.
We will avoid infringing copyright by using royalty free sounds and music within our product, this means we wont need a PRS License.
This is the Ofcom document that we have to abide by:
Drugs, smoking, solvents and alcohol
1.10 The use of illegal drugs, the abuse of drugs, smoking, solvent abuse and the misuse of alcohol:
- must not be featured in programmes made primarily for children unless there is strong editorial justification;
- must generally be avoided and in any case must not be condoned, encouraged or glamorised in other programmes broadcast before the watershed (in the case of television), or when children are particularly likely to be listening (in the case of radio), unless there is editorial justification;
- must not be condoned, encouraged or glamorised in other programmes likely to be widely seen or heard by under-eighteens unless there is editorial justification.
Violence and dangerous behaviour
1.11 Violence, its after-effects and descriptions of violence, whether
verbal or physical, must be appropriately limited in programmes
broadcast before the watershed (in the case of television) or when
children are particularly likely to be listening (in the case of radio)
and must also be justified by the context.
1.12 Violence, whether verbal or physical, that is easily imitable by children in a manner that is harmful or dangerous:
- must not be featured in programmes made primarily for children unless there is strong editorial justification;
- must not be broadcast before the watershed (in the case of television) or when children are particularly likely to be listening (in the case of radio), unless there is editorial justification.
1.13 Dangerous behaviour, or the portrayal of dangerous behaviour, that
is likely to be easily imitable by children in a manner that is harmful:
- must not be featured in programmes made primarily for children unless there is strong editorial justification;
- must not be broadcast before the watershed (in the case of television) or when children are particularly likely to be listening (in the case of radio), unless there is editorial justification.
(Regarding Rules 1.11 to 1.13 see Rules 2.4 and 2.5 in Section Two: Harm and Offence.)
Offensive language
1.14 The most offensive language must not be broadcast before the
watershed (in the case of television) or when children are particularly
likely to be listening (in the case of radio).
1.15 Offensive language must not be used in programmes made for younger children except in the most exceptional circumstances.
1.16 Offensive language must not be broadcast before the watershed (in
the case of television), or when children are particularly likely to be
listening (in the case of radio), unless it is justified by the context.
In any event, frequent use of such language must be avoided before the
watershed.(Regarding Rules 1.14 to 1.16 see Rule 2.3 in Section Two:
Harm and Offence.)
Sexual material
1.17 Material equivalent to the British Board of Film Classification ("BBFC") R18-rating must not be broadcast at any time.
1.18 'Adult sex material' - material that contains images and/or
language of a strong sexual nature which is broadcast for the primary
purpose of sexual arousal or stimulation - must not be broadcast at any
time other than between 2200 and 0530 on premium subscription services
and pay per view/night services which operate with mandatory restricted
access.
In addition, measures must be in place to ensure that the subscriber is an adult.
Meaning of "mandatory restricted access":
Mandatory restricted access means there is a PIN protected system (or other equivalent protection) which cannot be removed by the user, that restricts access solely to those authorised to view.
Mandatory restricted access means there is a PIN protected system (or other equivalent protection) which cannot be removed by the user, that restricts access solely to those authorised to view.
1.19 Broadcasters must ensure that material broadcast after the
watershed which contains images and/or language of a strong or explicit
sexual nature, but is not 'adult sex material' as defined in Rule 1.18
above, is justified by the context.
(See Rules 1.6 and 1.18 and Rule 2.3 in Section Two: Harm and Offence which includes meaning of "context".)
(See Rules 1.6 and 1.18 and Rule 2.3 in Section Two: Harm and Offence which includes meaning of "context".)
1.20 Representations of sexual intercourse must not occur before the
watershed (in the case of television) or when children are particularly
likely to be listening (in the case of radio), unless there is a serious
educational purpose. Any discussion on, or portrayal of, sexual
behaviour must be editorially justified if included before the
watershed, or when children are particularly likely to be listening, and
must be appropriately limited.
Ethical
We need to make sure that we do not accidentally misrepresent anybodies age, gender or ethnicity. Our show will not break any of Ofcoms Legal and Ethical regulations so our show will be aloowed to be played pre-watershed.
The sites we used for our copyright free sounds
https://www.freesound.org
www.freesfx.co.uk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPSx_cSPw_0
www.incompetech.com
