legal and ethical report

1. Learning outcome 2: Tasks D and E
Note from the exam board
When considering legal and ethical issues candidates should refer to the code of
practice for the regulatory body, which affects the production of print media (in our
case – the music industry).
Work could be evidenced in written format, letters to relevant bodies or online
requests applying for copyright permission. It is important that learners relate the
relevant legal and ethical issue to the print product they are producing, for instance
when considering the photos/images and language for inclusion in a print product
such as a magazine etc.
Students aiming for merit or distinction would present all of their research in a
more creative manner such as prezi, powtoom, emaze etc and use images,
videos and hyperlinks to enhance their work.
D - Legal and Ethical Considerations
Find out/define the below terms and tell us how this might have an impact on
your print products.
How this effects my print product?
Copyright/intellectual property rights Copyrighting is legal right that protects
the use of your work once your idea has
been physically expressed. If I don’t get
my images and album copyrighted
companies will be able to create
unofficial merchandise that I won’t be
able to profit off. I could create a water
mark for online images this would help
prevent the stealing of my images. I
want to use the phrase “smoking kills” I
am not sure if this is copyrighted or not
so I am going to use a different font to
avoid any complications.
Slander/libel A published false statement that is
damaging to my bands reputation, this
could be bad news for my band as false
accusations could affect their popularity
and fan base.
Royalties A sum paid to a patentee for the use of
a patent or to an author or composer for
each copy of a book sold or for each
public performance of a work. This
could affect me if I was to use
someone’s art in the background of my
album cover or poster.
Violence If I use violent lyrics in my songs then I
could be accused of influencing violent
crimes or acts of terror. If I use violent

2. imagery in my album cover or poster I
could lose sales on the album as it
could offend or disturb people however
it could also boost my sales because it
suites the genres stereo types of
destruction.
Offensive language/behaviour/material The use of swear words or other
offensive slangs could offend people but
my target audience would not be too
bothered by the use of swear words as
this is the genre they enjoy. Offensive
behaviour may attract the media in a
negative way and this could lead to my
bands downfall but it could also be a
form of advertising for my band. I’m not
too worried about offensive material as
alternative rock/punks style is too be a
bit controversial.
Public interest This could affect my band because if
people don’t show an interest then they
are never going to become relevant or
even successful. Public interest is a
common concern among citizens in the
management and affairs of local, state,
and national government.
E - Regulatory Bodies in the Music Industry
The music industry is mostly a self-regulated organisation. But just as any other
industry it must have regulators to protect all the people involved in the production
and realisation of a song, cd, a concert etc (copyright, trade, music representation).
The most important are listed below. Although all these companies have different
aims the vision is the same, keep the music industry alive. However, the fact that
technology is evolving so fast, makes it even harder for them to protect every single
detail.
Research the following organisations and find out what they aim to do. Think
about how their regulations would impact on your print work.
Who are they and what
do they do?
What impact this
organisation
would have on
my print
product?
BASCA
British Academy of Songwriters,
Composers and Authors
https://basca.org.uk/home/
The British academy of
songwriters protects and
campaigns for British
They would help
my band by
protecting their
music and by

3. songwriters and lyricists
of any genre.
informing me
with more
information to do
with the music
industry.
MPA
Music Publishers Association
http://www.mpaonline.org.uk
The MPA has become
the backbone for music
publishing and the MPA
help many companies
with distribution and
publication of their
music.
The MPA would
be able to help
with the
distribution and
the publication of
my album and
sending my band
down the path of
becoming
popular.
PRS
Performing Rights Society (who are
now linked with MCPS – The
Mechanical Copyright Protection
Society)
https://www.prsformusic.com/
PRS is a royalty and
copyright business that
collect money from the
royalties from people
using others product and
getting sales on it
The PRS will
help keep people
from using my
album without
paying royalties,
they will also be
able to help by
collecting money
from people who
are legally using
my album.
OFCOM
Office of Communications
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/
OFCOM is the company
that tries to stop illegal
radio stations playing
music that they don’t pay
for like pirate stations.
They would help
my band by
stopping pirate
radio stations
playing my music
for free.
PPL
Phonographic Performance Limited
http://www.ppluk.com/
PPL licenses music that
is played publicly or
broadcasted and then
shares the money
between the artists and
the recording rights
holder.
The PPL will
help my band as
they will make
sure that my
band get the
money they
deserve and they
will make sure
no one plays my
music illegally.
BPI
British Phonographic Industry
https://www.bpi.co.uk/default.aspx
The BPI is a music trade
industry responsible for
spreading music across
the world.
The BPI would
help my band get
popular across
the globe leading
to a larger fan
base resulting in
more money
made.

4. Songrite UK
Songright Copyright Office
http://www.songrite.co.uk/index.html
Songrite UK are
responsible for
copyrighting songs and
charge a fee for the
copyrighting of songs
Songrite UK
could help my
band be
protected from
people trying to
steal my band’s
music for their
own monetary
gain.
UK Music
(umbrella company linked with
many of the above)
http://www.ukmusic.org/about/
UK Music is an industry-
funded body established
in October 2008 to
represent the collective
interests of the recorded,
published and live arms
of the British music
industry.
UK music could
make sure that
when my band
performs live that
it can be sold as
an album.