Regulatory and professional bodies within the Creative Media Sector

Hemit Dhanji

Task 3 Understand the regulation of the media sector

British Board of Film Classification(BBFC)

• BBFC is a company that is in charge and responsible for the national certification and censorship of films which are in the UK. This company is really good in the media industry because it give people the visual recondition on what film certain people should and can watch like a 12 rating film is only for people that are 12 and above, that is because there might be certain things in that film that would be inappropriate for the child to watch. This company is also one of the best labeling companies in the United Kingdom because its not just a person which watches a film have has his say on it, it is a group of people that discus why they think it should be a certain rating and the process goes one to get the right information.

British Video AssociationThe British Video Association which is also known as BVA is the trade body that represents

the interests of publishers and rights owners of video entertainmenthttp://www.bva.org.uk/The BVS works really close with the government as they develop there copyright policy and

in 2004 the released a four ponged way to defend copyright, these are them

• Manage and improve access to our assets/content 

• Lobby for legislative reform and better copyright and IP Crime enforcement by public agencies 

• Extend industry enforcement online and into UK cinemas

• Create public awareness and appreciation of the value of copyright works

To round things up this is the company that deals with copyright and if anyone trys to copy someone else's work in the media industry the BVA are the ones to sort it out

Film Distributors AssociationThe Film Distributors Association which is also known as FDA is a

company that releases films for the United Kingdom audiencesThey work with lots of different individual, organizations , companies that

want to release a film and help them with things such as copyright issues and illegally downloaded films even if the film production has not been released yet

Video Standards Council (VSC)

• The VSC was established in 1989 and fulfils two basic roles:

• It is a company that controls video and video games in the industries and has a Code of Practice designed to make sure that the two industries show work that is cared to the with customers and the public. It has its retailer members and a staff training course dealing with age restricted videos, DVDs and video games. 

•   It acts as an administrator of the PEGI system of age rating for video games. PEGI is used in over 30 countries. It is the UK regulator responsible for the age rating of video games supplied in the UK (using the PEGI system). In fulfilling this role it uses the name Games Rating Authority (GRA).

Office for Communication (Ofcom)

• Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK.

• They control the TV and radio parts, fixed line telecoms, mobiles, postal services and the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.

• They make sure that people in the UK get the best from the communications services and are protected from scams.

• Ofcom operates under a number of Acts of Parliament, including in particular the communications act 2003. Ofcom must act within the powers and duties set for it by Parliament in legislation.

• The Communications Act says that Ofcom’s principal duty is to further the interests of citizens and of consumers, where appropriate by promoting competition. Meeting this duty is at the heart of everything we do.

Trading Standards CentralTrading Standards in the media industry are a company that deal with

the trading side of everything where in the Uk and overseas and it helps people make the right decision on what to do and then how to and what they need taking from all over the world and to make sure they don’t mess up and do it right

Press ComplaintsCommission (PCC)

• The PCC is an independent body which administers the system of self-regulation for the press. It does so primarily by dealing with complaints, framed within the terms of the Editors' Code of Practice, about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines (and their websites, including editorial audio-visual material) and the conduct of journalists. It can also assist individuals by representing their interests to editors in advance of an article about them being published.

• The purpose of the PCC is to serve the public by holding editors to account. We strive to protect the rights of individuals, while at the same time preserving appropriate freedom of expression for the press. We proactively advertise our services and reach out to people who may be in need of our help. We aim to promote high standards by developing clear guidance and practical principles through our rulings, and offering training and advice to editors and journalists.

• Source

• http://www.pcc.org.uk/AboutthePCC/WhatisthePCC.html

Advertising Standards Authority(ASA).

The Advertising Standards Authority is the UK’s independent regulator of advertising across all media. We apply the Advertising Codes, which are written by the Committees of Advertising Practice. Our work includes acting on complaints and proactively checking the media to take action against misleading, harmful or offensive advertisements.