Media Law

By Damiano Shehu

Defamation
What is it? Defamation helps to protect the reputations of both individuals and businesses when these come under unjustified attack. Its libelous. How has it been broken in the past? Oliver Quinn Sr, Oliver Quinn Jr and Niall Quinn, and Ballymascanlon Holdings Ltd all representing the Ballymascanlon House Hotel in Co Louth had initiated defamation proceedings against the search engine over the appearance of the word receivership as a suggested search query. How will it specifically effect your work? In my work I can not criticise my or say statements that are not true about David Cameron or Nick Clegg.

Contempt of Court
What is it? This stops the media from showing anything that has comments or information that will not favour people. How has it been broken in the past? Sky News is also facing contempt charges after the attorney general won permission on Monday to bring proceedings over the broadcaster's coverage of Paul and Rachel Chandler, the British couple who were held hostage for over a year by Somali pirates. How will it specifically effect your work? I cant say anything that will not favour or offend the people.

Privacy and Confidence

What is it? The law protects confidential information from being improperly divulged. This could lead to being sued. Broadcasters must comply with the data protection act 1998. This protects personal information. How has it been broken in the past? The row over the use of injunctions has prompted a significant jump in the number of privacy cases being pursued in the High Court. How will it specifically effect your work? I Cant ask very personal questions or disrupt the privacy of the people I want to be in my documentary.

Copyright
What is it? It protects the right to copy something that isnt yours. How has it been broken in the past? A computer program does not infringe the copyright of another one just because it performs the same function as it, but it could do if it copies the means by which the other program works, an advisor to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has said. How will it specifically effect your work? When using archive footage I have to make sure that I ask the owners if I can use it.