Understanding the Interactive Media Industries

Contractual

Types of Contracts

When Aardman are creating a new product, they need lots of people working for them, doing
different small jobs. This means that they need to get these workers to sign long term contracts until
the product is completed. There are different types of contracts that Aardman will use with their
employees. Firstly, Contract under seal. Contract under seal is where the contract is effective when it
is stamped with a seal, without a seal the contract wouldn’t be effective and wouldn’t work. Express
contract is another contract that is used, this is where the parties talk about the contract terms, this
type of contract wouldn’t use a seal like the last contact. Implied contract is an agreement or a
promise from one party to another. An implied contract lacks the requisites for a contract. Executory
contracts are a contract where nothing is done by either person. This type of contract is when the
original contract no longer exists/not in effect but a future act/obligation is written in the terms of
the contract. Aardman uses several different types of contracts with different companies, these
contracts include partnering e.g. when they partnered with Nathan Love, also contracts with all the
employees etc.

Non – Disclosure Agreement

A Non-Disclosure Agreement is also known as a confident agreement. It is a legal agreement

between at least two parties that outlines confidential material, knowledge, or information that
parties wish to share with each other for certain purposes, but wish to resist access to or by third
parties. It is a contract through which the parties agree not to disclose information covered by the
agreement. A non-disclosed agreement created a confidential relationship between the parties to
protect any type of confidential and propriety information or trade secrets. As such, an NDA protects
non-public business information. Like all contracts, they cannot be enforced if the contracted
activities are felonies.

Time Management

The definition of time management is the ability to use your time productively e.g. for work. An
example of this would be creating a film/game/media product – this would include planning, editing
and publishing and allocating the right amount of time to all the areas. Time management is a
subject in management to reach goals and improve productivity as the tasks have been given a guide
to how long each task should take. Aardman animations will use time management a lot so that they
can plan how long it will take to plan, film and edit a feature film or an advert etc. This is so that
creating the film is as efficient as possible instead of wasting time on filming and running out of
budget just of the filming without editing.
Costing

Contract costing is the tracking of costs associated with a specific contract with a customer. The
most typical types of cost reimbursement are: Fixed Price, Cost Plus, Time and Materials. Fixed price
is the company is paid a fixed total amount for completing the project, possibly including progress
payments. Cost plus is where the company is reimbursed for cost it incurred, plus a percentage
profit or fixed profit. Time and materials is the approach which is like the cost-plus arrangement,
except that the company builds a profit into its billings, rather than being awarded a specific profit.

Regulatory Issues

Freedom of Information

Freedom of information is an act of Parliament in the UK that created public “right of access” to
information held by public authorities in 2000. Freedom of information basically means that the
public were given access to the authority’s information which they weren’t allowed access to before
the act in 2000. Under the freedom of information act, anyone can request information under the
act including; legal entities, such as companies, also they do not need to give a reason for requesting
the information. Aardman isn’t really connected with freedom of information, they are part of the
public and receive information, they are also releasing the films and videos to the public for a cost.

Censorship

Censorship is mainly used to bring age ratings down on video, film, game, music etc. Censorship is
the suppression of speech – most of the supressed speech is harmful, politically incorrect or
sensitive etc. Censorship is used to bring down age ratings by censoring out graphic images and bad
language, in text this is mainly done with ****.

Some films and video will sensor racial attitudes and political correctness to avoid ethnical
stereotyping/offense. Aardman produce family films and videos, so none of the videos need
censoring. Most/all of the video produced by Aardman are family friendly Claymation so there isn’t
any content that needs to be censored out.

Copyright Law

The copyright designs and patent act was designed in 1988. The copy right law gives the creator of
literary, dramatic, artistic work, musical work, sound recordings, broadcasts, films and typographical
arrangement of published editions the right to control the way their content/material is used. The
duration of the copyright depends on the item that is being copyrighted, for example: Literary,
dramatic, musical or artistic work has a 70-year copyright – but is also released to the public during
the copyright being active. Sound recording and broadcast has a 50 – year copyright – but is also
released to the public during the copyright being active. Films have a 70 – year copyright but are also
available to the public whilst the copyright is active.

Health and Safety Policy

Office of Communication (Ofcom)

The Office of communication, OFCOM for short, is the government approved regulatory and
competition authority for the broadcasting, telecommunications and postal industries of the United
Kingdom. Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK. Ofcom has wide ranging powers on the
radio, television, telecoms, and postal sectors. It has a statutory duty to represent the interests of
citizens and consumers by promoting competition and protecting people from what might be
considered offensive or harmful material. Ofcom makes sure that people in the UK get the best from
their communication services and are protected from scams and sharp practises, while ensuring that
competition can thrive. Ofcom operates under several Acts of Parliament, including the
communications act 2003

Advertising Standards Authority (ASA)

The Advertising Standards Authority, ASA for short, is the self-regulatory organization of the
advertising industry in the UK. The ASA was founded in 1962. The ASA is the company that creates
code of conduct on people who break copyright rules, the company can receive complaints by
customers who have been affected by copyright. The ASA can ban ads on the internet, these bans
can be costly.” The role of the ASA is to monitor how things are advertised and they also regulate
sales and promotions and direct marketing in the UK. Using advertising codes, they can keep the
standard of advertisement high and appropriate. These codes stipulate “that before distributing or
submitting a marketing communication for publication, marketers must hold documentary evidence
to prove all claims, whether direct or implied, that are capable of objective substantiation” and that
“no marketing communication should mislead, or be likely to mislead, by inaccuracy, ambiguity,
exaggeration, omission or otherwise.

Professional Bodies

British Interactive Multimedia Association (BIMA)

The British Interactive Media Association, BIMA for short, is the industry association representing
the interactive media and digital content sector. The organization is run by an elected executive
committee of 13 members who are voted in at the AGM. BIMA help to support current and future
talent, they help connect talent with a passion for digital and they celebrate excellence and reward
great digital work. Aardman animations went to the 2010 BIMA awards event with their Home
Sheep game and Tate movie website, Aardman did win a prize along with a few other companies for
their website and game. Aardman could also be nominated again 2017 as they are always making
creative digital films/animation/Claymation products.

Professional body codes of practise

Ethical

Policies and Procedures

Ethical Requirements

Representation of gender

Representation of religious beliefs

Cultural Issues and Language