Codes of Practice and

Regulations
A.3
OFCOM Regulations
• Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK, which regulates: television, radio, and video on demand , landlines, mobile phones and
postal services and how wireless phones function. OFCOM was originally established by the Office of Communications Act 2002, and in
2003, received its full licence.
• OFCOM’s ethos is to help provide the people in the UK by making sure they are protected from any scams and that they are getting the
best services from the communications.
• OFCOM is mainly funded by the TV license, which is a payment of £145.50 per year. However, they are also financed by payments from
industries for regulating broadcasting and communications networks.
• The watershed is used to help support the audiences by making sure that the content that is put out is appropriate for the viewers
wellbeing and family suitable. As a rule from the code serve, they also ensure that there is suitable protection put in place for people under
the age of 18 from broadcast content that is unsuitable for them
• “David Blaine piercing ice pick through hand2 is an example of this as many complaints were filed from this as the video that was shown
was inappropriate and before the watershed so children had access to a video that was very graphic as we saw David putting a ice
pick through his hand.
• It would be suitable for a narrative music video as Ofcom has a duty to ensure that under 18’s are sheltered from explicit content. The rules
from the Code serve ensure appropriate protection for under 18’s from broadcast content that is unsuitable for them.
• In order for Ofcom to consent any video, you would need to have no abusive or insensitive content towards people and it should not be
graphic as Ofcom will ban it so that below eighteens are protected. The water shed is 9pm-5.30am
BBFC Regulations
• BBFC (British Board of Film Classification), helps regulate film, video, TV via age regulation
• The BBFC is a dependent organisation which has categorised films in the cinema since the
company originated in 1912 and videos/DVD’s since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984.
• The BBFC consists of people who watch new films before they have been released and then
decide on what age rating it will be. Sometimes there are films that are too explicit for screening
and arte banned from being shown in the cinema. For example “human centipede” was a film
that was banned from the UK.

• Human centipede was originally banned in the United Kingdom by the BBFC because of its
repulsive content. However it was soon given an 18 certificate after over 30 cuts were made to
the film. The film was also barred in Australia for a short period of time, but once again the ban
was lifted after it cut parts from the film. It is banned in New Zealand completely. In research for
my video I will need to contemplate not showing what BBFC would consider, “revolting, graphic
content”, this is so that it could be shown in the cinemas and will have an age certificate on it.
UKCS Regulations
• ‘UKCS’ stands for the United Kingdom Copyright Service, which protect your work from
infringement and misuse - by warranting that you always have the best authorisation of
ownership to safeguard your work and your rights
• “UK Copyright Service is a well established specialist in the area of copyright registration
and protects thousands of works by individuals and companies across the globe”
• The UKCS works closely with YouTube – making sure no content is eligible for
infringement. In order to join you are required to fill out a registration form and then pay
a fee – “Our standard charges for on-line registrations are £42.50 for 5 years, £72.50 for
10 years. The standard charges for postal applications are £52.50 for 5 years, £82.50 for
10 years.”
• It is important to register because registration can make it easier to corroborate a claim,
speed up verdicts and moderate legal costs in future piracy or infringement disputes
• The reason you should choose UKCCS is because they are true market leaders, who are
trusted by creative individuals and organisations across the world who recognise that the
unrivalled standards ensure the strongest evidence and best possible service
ASA Regulations
• ‘ASA’ stands for The Advertising Standards Authority, is a non-statutory
organisation and are not funded by the government. They make sure that all
advertisements are appropriate for all audiences of all ages
• Areas of complaint inside ASA’s remit are press ads, radio, TV (including
teleshopping presentations), ads on the internet, smartphones and tablets, ads
claims on companies’ own websites, commercial e-mail and text messages,
posters and billboards, leaflets and brochures, adverts at the cinema, direct mail -
whether addressed to you personally or not
• An example of an advert that was barred from being publicised was the Unilever
UK Ltd (Dove) Dove produced a series of ads that contained data and opinions
about breastfeeding in public. The ads were featured across magazines, social
media, and Dove’s own website. Many condemned the language, such as “put
them away”, as this could embolden disapproval of breastfeeding. Some were
also alarmed that the ads might encourage neglecting crying babies
BECTU Regulations
• ‘BECTU’ stands for Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union, which is the
trade union for media and entertainment and originated in 1991.
• Certain areas are covered include broadcasting, film, independent production, theatre and the
arts, IT and telecoms, live events, leisure and digital media
• The key aims of the union are to protect jobs, increase membership, win new recognition
agreements, improve pay and conditions of service, including pensions