6B Comedy & Entertainment Programming : Media Law
Defamation
If the programme you are making involves criticising or making any damaging allegation, even as a joke, 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.
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. If in doubt seek advice immediately.
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.