Legal and ethical elements of media

1. ELearning 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, PowToon, 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 1. ‘the exclusive and assignable legal right’
2. Effect: unable to use brands or names.
Cannot use certain clothes or props
Slander/libel 1. ‘a published false statement that is
damaging to a person's reputation’
2. Effect: Have to be truthful with what is
written on album
Royalties ‘a sum paid to a patentee for the use of
a patent or to an artist or author’
Effect: Cannot use or credit names on
album or use song titles
Violence ‘behaviour involving physical force
intended to hurt’
Effect: Have to make cover appropriate
for viewers.
Offensive language/behaviour/material ‘Using rude language offensive to some
people’
Effect: Certain slogans or speech
cannot be used
Public interest ‘relevance to the general public’
Effect: Has to be appropriate for all
ages or society if poster is up in local
areas.
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

2. 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/
‘BASCA exists to support
and protect the
professional interests of
songwriters, lyricists and
composers of all genres
of music and to celebrate
and encourage
excellence in British
music writing.’
Impact: You be
useful for British
Artist be able to get
into the industry
MPA
Music Publishers Association
http://www.mpaonline.org.uk
‘We act on behalf of 280
businesses that invest in,
license works by and
support the livelihoods of
songwriters, composers
and lyricists – ranging
from the UK’s largest and
most established music
publishers to
independents and start-
ups across all genres’
Impact: Benefits the
start up for the
artist by supporting
and helping them
with licence work.
PRS
Performing Rights Society (who are
now linked with MCPS – The
Mechanical Copyright Protection
Society)
https://www.prsformusic.com/
‘We pay royalties to
our members when
their work is
performed,
broadcast, streamed,
downloaded,
reproduced, played
in public or used in
film and TV’
Impact: a amateur
or successful artist
can receive money,
through royalties, to
help them develop
their music
OFCOM
Office of Communications
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/ OFCOM
‘Ofcom is the
regulator and
competition authority
for the UK
communications
industries. It regulates
the TV and radio
sectors, fixed line
Impact: The right
for music to be
played on radio
broadcast

3. telecoms, mobiles,
postal services, plus
the airwaves over
which
wireless devices
operate.’
PPL
Phonographic Performance Limited
http://www.ppluk.com/
‘Standing up for music
rights’
‘If you play recorded
music or music videos
in public, you will
almost certainly be
legally required to
have a PPL licence.’
Impact: Have to
legally pay licence
fee for playing
music publicly
BPI
British Phonographic Industry
https://www.bpi.co.uk/default.aspx
‘BPI represents the
UK’s recorded music
industry, which is one
of the most exciting
and thriving music
sectors in the world.’
Impact: Having a
representative will
help an artist and
their music become
more popular
Songrite UK
Songright Copyright Office
http://www.songrite.co.uk/index.html
‘Songrite Copyright
Office UK offers a
secure and ultra-
reliable copyright
registration service
which is unrivalled in
quality and value’
Impact: an British
artist songs will be
covered from
copyright
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. ‘
Impact: Promotes
the interest of
artists and
publishes research
of the economic
value of the music
industry