6D Drama : Media Law
Defamation
If the drama you are making involves criticising or making any damaging allegation about any living individual or organisation, seek advice from your programme lawyer immediately.
Privacy
If the drama you are making involves any potential infringement of the privacy of real individuals or organisations, seek advice from your programme lawyer immediately.
Contempt
If your programme involves or makes reference to any active or current legal proceedings, particularly criminal legal proceedings or those involving children, seek advice from your programme lawyer immediately.
Copyright
All material must be properly cleared for use within programmes in accordance with the production agreement. This is the responsibility of producer.
Travelling Abroad
Filming abroad may give rise to special legal and health & safety issues, especially if it involves undercover filming. All such filming must be approved by the commissioning editor and programme lawyer in advance. In addition, if filming for Channel 4 is to take place in a potentially ‘hostile' country or environment, programme- makers must read and comply with Channel 4's Hostile Environment Protocol.
Parliamentary Footage
Parliamentary footage i.e. from within the House of Commons and House of Lords (including Committees in both Houses) cannot be used in light entertainment (including satire) or drama programmes. Similar rules apply to footage from within other parliaments and assemblies e.g. the Scottish Parliament, Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies. If in doubt, seek advice from the programme lawyer.