6A Factual and Current Affairs Programming : Media Law
Defamation
If the programme you are making involves criticising or making any damaging allegation about any living individual or organisation, 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.
Privacy and confidence
If your programme may contain private or confidential information without the consent of the person or organisation to which it relates seek advice from your programme lawyer immediately.
Copyright
All material must be properly cleared for use within programmes and this is the responsibility of producers. Wherever programme-makers wish to rely on one
of the statutory defences to copyright infringement e.g. fair dealing or incidental inclusion, they must seek advice from the programme lawyer at an early stage.
Programmes may well give rise to further legal issues e.g. Official Secrets Act legislation, Protection of Children Act. If in doubt seek advice immediately.