Legal Issues Revision

Legal Issues Revision

Freedom of Information Act 2000

You can find out what information the government and other places has about you.
Organisations that have to give info:
Public sector organisations (serves the public) - NHS, Police, State run schools, council
They have an obligation to publish/ make available information about what they're doing - public can ask for information
Consequences for not providing this information: Fines, grace period to find info (usually 30 days) and make it public before punishment
Media products: Could be relevant for documentaries about these organisations and/or what they deal with, i.e. health or crime (NHS and Police + Council respectively)

Data Protection Act 1998

Protecting personal data, for example:
Bank account details
Medical records
Cultural/ Religious beliefs
Name and address details
Organisations do this by encrypting the information
Not allowed to share it/ give it to third party organisations
Consequences: Person/ organisation who shared it can be sued, fined or prosecuted (prison)
Media product: personal info based on client, makes website for buying things - need to make sure customer info is kept safe (E commerce), TV show competitions, surverys/questionaires

Libel

Written deformation (content that is untrue or damaging to a person's reputation)
Especially applies to newspapers, magazines, online news anmd content

Slander

Verbal deformation (content that is untrue or damaging to a person's reputation)
Especially applies to news shows, interviews, chat shows, documentaries

Intellectual Property Rights

Similar to Copyright, acknolwdged for something you've made
Counts as your intellectual property even in a group
If you're working for an organisation, it's the company that owns the thing you make (but you get recognition as well). This is to protect the company if you leave the company
How to seek permission to use something protected by this: email them asking permission, send them a letter, phone call, arrange a meeting (all formal - to keep it professional)

Copyright, designs and patents Act 1988

Copyright to someone or organisation who has created something
Examples:
Music
Branding - logos and trademarks
Books/films
How to seek permission to use something protected by this: email them asking permission, send them a letter, phone call, arrange a meeting (all formal - to keep it professional)