Legal & Ethical Report

In 1988 the copyright designs and patents act was created. It was created
to ensure that people who had worked hard on a project could claim the
rewards without the idea being stolen from somebody who claims its their
own. Before the act was introduces there was nothing to stop people from
stealing someone elses work. This act was specifically drawn up to
protect work made on ICT systems especially that which has been
published to the internet, as it can be stolen easily. The act deems it
illegal to copy software, music etc. that somebody has created without
written permission from the creator. This act covers the ownership of:

Text - is covered for 70 years from the end of the calendar year of
the death of the last remaining author.
Pictures and graphics same as text
Logos same as text Buttons same as text.
Icons same as text
Images same as text
Music and songs same as text
Plays and screen plays- are covered for 70 years from the end of the
calendar year in which the last principal director, author or
composer dies
Sound recordings - is covered for 50 years from the end of the
calendar year of the death of the last remaining author.

If you purchase software then you dont get the rights to redistribute the
software, but only a licence this allows you to use the software on the
stated number of computers. If you were to download it on more than the
stated number of computers, it would be considered as illegal and a
breach to the act. To get around this, some companies offer a multi user
licence, this allows a certain number of people to use the software at once
but it can be on all of the networked computers.
Big sites such as YouTube do not allow the downloading and use of their
videos unless the owner has provided written permission or there is a
disclaimer saying so in the description of the video. On all videos
copyright ownership is automatically created the ownership goes to the
publisher and is then covered until 50 years after the last producer has
died or if the owner decides to lift the copyright laws on that particular
video. Most of the people that breach these copyright laws face fines, the
expense they have to pay is related to the seriousness of the breach of
law
Images can only be used freely if the copyright holder has decided that
they can be freely used by the public. This is the case with google images.
Some copyright holders may only allow use of their content in a certain
country or at a certain time. On rare occasions copyright holders sell the

rights to use their assets, however it doesnt mean that you are a
copyright holder, it just means that youre allowed to use them.
When finding images online the best place to search is google images, if
you use a site you will sometimes have to ask the copyright holder for
written permission to use the image.Some people will allow the purchase
of their image if you want to use it. Google and MS clipart are free to use
as they do not have any copyright owners.
To ensure that I do not breach the copyright designs and patents act I will
make sure that all assets used are either created by me or I have written
permission by the copyright holder to use them. The content I use will not
be offensive, vulgar or unethical in any way.
Ethics
When creating a multimedia product restrictions will apply on what I can
say and do in relation to the course, this is to ensure that the work is
ethically and morally correct in the eyes of the examiner. This is to protect
myself from possible law suits and to avoid offending anybody. This is also
an important feature to follow as it stops anybody from being offended by
the products I create.
It is also illegal to reveal any confidential information in any product as
every single one is bound by the privacy act. This includes financial,
personal and medical information. Sites such as Facebook come under
scrutiny on this as people can post anything for anyone to see, though it
will be taken down people could have seen potentially damaging
information.
I will conform to the Obscene Publications Act. This act stops anything that
is deemed obscene or unethical to be used on a product for example you
cant say Mr X is stupid for Y reason it also made it illegal to publish
anything that is likely to deprive corrupt (weather intended or not) this
can include images of extreme sexual activity such as bestiality,
necrophilia, rape or torture.
As there is a big issue with race, gender, religion and sexuality I have to
be careful how I describe items in my products as I have to give a nonbiased impartial opinion on certain aspects of the media world. This
means that I cannot suggest that any race, gender, religion, or sexuality is
lesser than any other. The race relations act is a big part of media. The
race relations act is an older act and all of the points covered in this act
are also covered in the equality act (2010). This act stops the
discrimination of anybody, anywhere; this includes any age, race,
sexuality and religious discrimination.
Ofcom

Ofcom or the office of communications is

the government selected authority when it
comes to television, Radio, Telecoms and
postal sectors. Its duty is to represent the
interests of every UK consumer by
promoting friendly competition and
protecting the public from material that is
considered harmful or offensive, though the
things that Ofcom have the most power
over are: licencing, research competition,
complaints, protecting the radio spectrum
from abuse and codes and policies. Ofcom
received full authority over the matters
stated above in 2003 when the communications act 2003 was passed.
Advertising standards authority
The advertising standards agency
(ASA) is the regulator of advertising in
the UK covering all of the media.
When advertising you have to stick to
the rules of the agency. They act on
complaints and they check the media
to take action against misleading,
offensive or harmful advertisements.

BIMA
The British interactive media
association is a company that rewards
people for their hard work in interactive
media it is like a union, as it follows
similar principles to most unions:
protect their members from harm.

BBFC (CLASSIFICTAIONS)
The BBFC are responsible for the classification of media products such as
videos, DVDs and video games. There are several different age ratings
that advise parents; these age ratings are: PG (meaning parental guidance
is advised); U (meaning unrated or unclassified, this is suitable for all
children); 3+ (meaning children 3 and above can watch); 12+ (meaning
children 12 and above can watch); 15 (meaning children 15 and above
can watch) and finally 18 (this means only adults can watch as it probably

contains either full frontal nudity and or excessive swearing and violence).
See below for a screenshot of the BBFC site and age rating images.

I think that my product has a classification of 12, due to the fact that there
is some violence in one of the videos. The violence in the video is not
severe enough to achieve a 15 rating. As shown below in the screenshots.