Legal issues impacting on media production

 Legal issues

Data protection act- If you collect data about individuals during the creation of a media product the the data protection act must be adhered or you could face a lawsuit. Personal data could be collected through journalistic investigation or in a social media campaign. 

• 1988-uk based law
• To protect customers and personal data exp. social class, lifestyle or income,
• Or an organised system- how digital personal information is protected as it is easily accessible when digital online. 
• 8 valid principles within this law-
• Requires the data subjects consent
• Should only be kept for the reason it was collected
• Should be kept accurate 
• Should be kept up to date
• Should only be kept for as long as it is needed
• Should be made available to the data subject
• Should be processed securely or anyone can access that information 
• Should be processed within the UK

Freedom of information act- The public has the right to access information that is held by public sector organisations. During the research stage of any media product, such as the news industry, access to this data can be requested from a variety of sources including public sector organisations using this act.

• 2000
• Provides public access to information held by public authorities 
• Obliged to publish information- public can access this information
• In the public domain- democracy 
• Opens up the scope to find and publish information 
• Applies to TV and film due to them applying this information to the genre of the film, to make it realistic and informative. exp. a war tv show would have to research and find information on war. 
• Example of where to research is The public records office.
• Used to be called the official secrets act where it was against the law to research topics 

Copyright, designs and patents act

• 1988
• Gives creators of digital media the rights to control how their work is used and distributed. Music, books, videos, games and software can all be covered by copyright law.
• Anything which you design or code is automatically copyrighted and may not be copied without your permission, as the digital creator.
• Creatives the right to control how their work is being used.
• Rights of ownership vary in length, depending on the type of media product. 

Intellectual property- If you have worked to produce a piece of work such as an image, script, article or graphic then it is your intellectual property. If someone wants to use it, they require your permission. If you produce the work while working with an organisation, you do not the intellectual property of that item, the organisation you work for does.  

• Seek permission to use work

Defamation law

• 2013
• Slander-Carries the same legal implications as libel but involves making a false statement in the spoken word. 
• Libel-When a media product is published that contains information about someone that is untrue and damaging to their reputation. This can be in writing, video, imagery or radio. 
• Negative story is ok, as long as it is clear it is an opinion or has evidence that it is the truth
• Exp. Rebel Wilson suing for defamation- damage to her reputation. She sued Bauer Media Group for claiming that she was a liar, she lied about her back round, age. This resulted in her loosing the role in kung fu panda 3 and trolls and hadn't gotten a lead role in 2 years. 

Human rights act

• 1998
• It is the value of society that keeps it fair, just and equal
• Allows rights to education, freedom of expression, non-discrimination and protection of property.
• It protects the right of life, protects our life by law. 
• Everyone is entitled to human rights 
• Incorporates the rights set out in the European convention of human rights into domestic British law.