There are several governing bodies within the UK broadcasting industry.
They cover TV rules and regulations, Film classification, premium-rate services regulations copyright and licencing.
Ofcom, Office of Cummunications
Ofcom is the regulator in the communications sector. Its role first began in 2003 when the government dissolved the five existing regulators at that time; The Broadcasting Standards Commission (BSC), The Independent Television Commission (ITC), Oftel, The Radio Authority and the Radio communications Agency.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk
It is the principal duty of Ofcom to further the interests of citizens in relation to communications matters and to further the interests of consumers in relevant markets, where appropriate by promoting competition
Ofcom's specific duties fall into six areas:
- Ensuring the optimal use of the electro-magnetic spectrum
- Ensuring that a wide range of electronic communications services - including high speed data services - is available throughout the UK
- Ensuring a wide range of TV and radio services of high quality and wide appeal
- Maintaining plurality in the provision of broadcasting
- Applying adequate protection for audiences against offensive or harmful material
- Applying adequate protection for audiences against unfairness or the infringement of privacy
Ofcom's Regulatory Principles
- Ofcom regulates with a clearly articulated and publicly reviewed annual plan, with stated policy objectives.
- Ofcom will intervene where there is a specific statutory duty to work towards a public policy goal which markets alone cannot achieve.
- Ofcom will operate with a bias against intervention, but with a willingness to intervene firmly, promptly and effectively where required.
- Ofcom will strive to ensure its interventions will be evidence-based, proportionate, consistent, accountable and transparent in both deliberation and outcome.
- Ofcom will always seek the least intrusive regulatory mechanisms to achieve its policy objectives.
- Ofcom will research markets constantly and will aim to remain at the forefront of technological understanding.
- Ofcom will consult widely with all relevant stakeholders and assess the impact of regulatory action before imposing regulation upon a market.
PhonepayPlus is the industry-funded regulatory body for all premium rate charged telecommunications services. They are non-profit making and comprise ten remunerated part-time Board members, supported by a full-time Executive.
They regulate services in their entirety - their content, promotion and overall operation - through otheirCode of Practice. Thier role is to prevent consumer harm.
Among other things, they require:
- clear and accurate pricing information
- honest advertising and service content
- appropriate and targeted promotions.
They investigate complaints, and have the power to fine companies and bar access to services if the Code is breached. They can also bar the individual(s) behind a company from running any other premium rate services under any company name on any telephone network for a defined period.
Recent troubles with both the BBC and ITV call in competitions have brought attention to this particular committee and they have worked closely with Ofcom, broadcasters, producers and telephone companies, to introduce changes and additions to their policies.
- A viewer's "chances of acceptance or rejection" must be permanently shown and updated at no more than 10-minute intervals.
- A presenter or voice-over must explain pricing information at least every 10 minutes.
- Participants must receive warnings about costs for every £10 spent in a day.
IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) and Copyrights
Copyright and IPR are an important part of modern life. There is an increasing awareness of the value of intellectual property within the broadcasting industry. Technological changes are also making IPR more and more significant.
IPR
Protecting intellectual property involves a few simple and practical steps.
Any intellectual property should be registered
Copyright notices should appear on all works for which protection is sought
All property should be dealt with in contracts and when possible confidentiality agreements should be used to protect someone's knowledge or inventions from being exploited for financial or other reasons.
Copyright is an extremely relevant right for the information technology sector. It could almost have been designed with computers and the internet in mind. Copyright is the right of the originator of a literary, dramatic, artistic or musical work to control the reproduction and publication or performance of the work. Copyright is governed primarily by statute and the Act now in force is the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA 1988).
Copyright:
•Requires no registration (in the UK)
•Arises as soon as a work is produced
•Costs nothing to obtain protection
•Lasts for a lengthy period without any requirement for renewal; generally the life of the author plus 70 years in the EU
•Is flexible, simple and easy to apply As far as the Internet is concerned, copyright protects most materials on the Internet. It protects computer software and its source code, screen displays and other literary, musical and artistic
works on the Internet. In the EU, database right is a lesser right than copyright which may be the sole protection for some new databases which lack individual creativity.
MCPS/PRS
The MCPS-PRS Alliance is home to the world's best music writers, composers and publishers. Formed in 1997 between two royalty collection societies (MCPS and PRS), it exists to collect and pay royalties to its members when their music is recorded and made available to the public (MCPS); and when their music is performed, broadcast or otherwise made publicly available (PRS).
Ten years since joining forces, the MCPS-PRS Alliance is one of the world’s most efficient combined rights collecting operations. Offering its members more money, more often, at less cost and its customers the most efficient means by which they can use music.
If you don't obtain clearance for your use of copyright music, you could face legal action for copyright infringement and may become liable to pay damages and costs.
Where does MCPS collect its money from?
Money is generated (through licence fees) from the recording of our members’ music on many different formats, including CDs, DVDs, television, broadcast and online.
Where does PRS collect its money from?
Money is due for any public performance of music, whether live or recorded, that takes place outside the home and from radio and television broadcasts and online.
What do MCPS and PRS do with the money collected?
MCPS and PRS pay money collected to their writer, composer and music publisher members. Both organisations are ‘not for profit’ and only deduct a small admin/commission fee to cover operating costs.
British Board of Film Classification (BBFC)
The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-governmental body, which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912, and videos since the passing of the Video Recordings Act in 1984.
Cinema
The British Board of Film Censors was set up in 1912 by the film industry as an independent body to bring a degree of uniformity to the classification of film nationally.
Statutory powers on film remain with the local councils, which may overrule any of the Board's decisions, passing films they reject, banning films they have passed, and even waiving cuts, instituting new ones, or altering categories for films exhibited under their own licensing jurisdiction.
No comments:
Post a Comment