http://accelerateanimation.

com/about/
LEGAL ISSUES:
When undertaking a media project, there are numerous legal issues which must be explored and, if
need be, rectified. As such, this document aims to discuss and recognise what can be done to make the
production of The Adventures of Pigeuo and Bryan as unproblematic as possible.
PRIVACY ISSUES:
Article eight of the Human Rights Act, 1998, states that individuals should be permitted to live their
lives with due privacy and without interference by the state 1. Protected by this legislation are a
number of factors, all of which relate directly to the person and their confidentiality2:

THE RIGHT TO INDIVIDUAL SEXUALITY

THE RIGHT TO PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
INTEGRITY (The right to not be physically interfered with)
RESPECT FOR PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION, ESPECIALLY THE
STORAGE AND SHARING OF THIS INFORMATION.
THE RIGHT TO NOT BE SUBJECTED TO UNLAWFUL STATE SURVEILLANCE
RESPECT OF PRIVACY WHEN ONE HAS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY;
AND
THE RIGHT TO CONTROL THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION ABOUT ONES
PRIVATE LIFE, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN COVERTLY

As a producer/filmmaker I would engage article eight were I to investigate the sexual preferences of a
member of my cast or crew. This matter is not relevant to the project or the interests of anyone but
the individual and does not affect the persons professionality or ability to carry out their job. Likewise,
personal autonomy shall be respected at all times and there shall be no inappropriate touching etc.
occurring on set.
Information regarding employees (names, addresses, telephone numbers etc.) will be kept in a secure
location alongside their contract and any necessary medical information; if they should become ill
whilst filming or rehearsing, there will be documentation to say how they should be treated/indicate
the severity of their condition, at present. To prevent the loss of this data, it will be stored in a protected
hard-drive location. When recording, a binder will be kept on hand so easy reference can be made, if
need be. Following this, it will put in a safe, private location to ensure that it is not misplaced or stolen.
Everyone on set will have their privacy respected to a reasonable level. When using toilet facilities,
changing into a costume (if applicable), require medical assistance and so on, the individual(s) will be

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-rights/civil-rights/human-rights/what-rights-are-protectedunder-the-human-rights-act/your-right-to-respect-for-private-and-family-life/
2
https://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/human-rights/what-are-human-rights/human-rights-act/article-8right-private-and-family-life

London & Derby

Registered Address: 37 Calvert Street, Derby DE1 2RQ
+44 (0)7905 742 319

given suitable changing rooms and cubicles etc. with none of the recording equipment or unrequired
staff members present.
Moreover, any discussion/text messages/e-mails received regarding the private life of another will
remain confidential and privileged information between the recipient and the sender, unless explicit
permission has been given otherwise. In addition to this, any photographs taken outside of scheduled
shoots will remain private, unless publication has been agreed with the subject and photographer.
Anyone found contravening this legislation will be removed from the recording with investigation and
relevant legal action to follow.
DEFAMATION:
The Defamation Act, 2013 notes that a statement is not defamatory unless;

ITS PUBLICATION HAS CAUSED OR IS LIKELY TO CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO THE

REPUTATION OF THE CLAIMANT3

A number of items can be considered defamatory and are inclusive of4;

LOWERS THEM IN THE ESTIMATION OF RIGHT-THINKING MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC;

AND/OR
CAUSES THEM TO BE SHUNNED OR AVOIDED; AND/OR
DISPARAGES THEM IN THEIR OFFICE, TRADE OR PROFESSION; AND/OR
EXPOSES THEM TO HATRED RIDICULE OR CONTEMPT.

Consequential of this is the risk of an order being executed which prohibits widespread distribution
and/or the removal of the offending statements5. This will limit the audience of the piece and, from a
business perspective, limit the chances of the production company breaking even or achieving a profit.
In the long term, this may cause the affected individuals to struggle to attain funding/backing for future
projects.
This can cause inevitable harm to the success and reception of the project, and the reputability of the
production company. As such, great care shall be taken to prevent characters from resembling any
person (living/dead) in a negative light. With The Adventures of Pigeuo and Bryan to potentially feature
satirical content, it is essential that substantial differences exist between the fictional and actual realms,
and that characters are not identifiable as being based on a specific human being.
Considering that influence will likely be drawn from fact-based sources, a disclaimer will be included at
the end credits. This will serve to indicate that there is a) no evidence to suggest that a certain individual
is being parodied or misrepresented and b) there is no ill intention or truth to any of the activities they
are seen partaking in. an example of this follows6;

THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. NAMES, CHARACTERS, PLACES AND INCIDENTS EITHER

ARE PRODUCTS OF THE AUTHORS IMAGINATION OR ARE USED FICTITIOUSLY. ANY
RESEMBLANCE TO ACTUAL EVENTS OR LOCALES OR PERSONS, LIVING OR DEAD, IS
ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/26/crossheading/requirement-of-serious-harm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism/article/art20130702112133651
5
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/26/crossheading/removal-etc-of-statements
6
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ThisIsAWorkOfFiction
4

London & Derby

Registered Address: 37 Calvert Street, Derby DE1 2RQ
+44 (0)7905 742 319

RACE DISCRIMINATION:
There are several branches to the racial discrimination issue, which are7;

DIRECT DISCRIMINATION (Treating someone less fairly based on their

actual/perceived race, or the race of someone who they are acquainted with)
INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION (Disadvantaging members of a certain race, often
through a rule that applies to the entire workplace, i.e. requiring GCSE English and
maths excludes those from locations without these qualifications, unless
equivalents are accepted.)
HARASSMENT (Undesired conduct as a consequence of ones race)
VICTIMISATION (An employee is treated unfair for raising or supporting a claim
about raise discrimination) POLICIES SHOULD PREVENT RACE DISCRIMINATION IN;
RECRUITMENT
DETERMINING PAY, AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
SELECTION FOR PROMOTION
DISCIPLINE AND GRIEVANCES
COUNTERING BULLYING AND HARASSMENT
WHEN AN EMPLOYEE IS DISMISSED.

When hiring any cast/crew members, there country of origin/religion/etc. will be irrelevant. Individuals
will be employed on a skill and experience basis. In other words, successful applicants will possess
proficiency in their field and be able to fulfil their job role to a high standard, with a strong knowledge
of the industry and their subject. To prevent indirect discrimination, GCSEs, A-Levels etc. and their
foreign counterparts will be accepted when deciding who will fulfil what roles in the production of The
Adventures of Pigeuo and Bryan.
No form of harassment or racism will be tolerated on set. Anyone found engaging in behaviour such as
this will be removed from the set with a suspension of their contract being upheld until an investigation
proves or disproves this claim. This is a universal rule and will not be manipulated in favour of a
particular race.
Additionally, pay and training will be dictated by the level of the job and will be equal amongst each
person who fulfils the same role; a runner will earn less than a producer, say. Furthermore, promotions
will be decided based on personal performance and how well they are achieving their goals, completing
their duties and aiding the progression of production.
Any disciplinary action will be undertaken as a response to inappropriate actions or ineffective working,
not due to a crew member being of a certain ethnic origin. Likewise, when dealing with grievances,
those involved will have the indisputable option to discuss their stance, reasoning and feelings relating
to the situation.
From a moral perspective, The Adventures of Pigeuo and Bryan will not represent races in a way that
associates them with any pre-existing, or new, stereotypes8. Likewise, a definite and obvious effort will
be made to have a diverse range of characters, with a plethora of races/religions/ethnicities being
portrayed.

7
8

http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1849
https://www.natcom.org/CommCurrentsArticle.aspx?id=972

London & Derby

Registered Address: 37 Calvert Street, Derby DE1 2RQ
+44 (0)7905 742 319

GENDER DISCRIMINATION:
The gender of a person in a protected characteristic and acting against a person because of this is a
form of discrimination9. Much like with the previous section, the following must not be dictated by a
persons sex10;

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION

PROMOTION
TRAINING, PAY AND BENEFITS
REDUNDANCY AND DISMISSAL
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF WORK.

When assembling the cast, equal opportunities will be afforded all genders. Like previously, potential
crew members will be considered on a skill/qualification basis, and not because of their sex. Similarly,
pay, training and promotions will be equal for those partaking in the same role. Any contraventions will
be met with corresponding disciplinary action.
Exceptions will arise when a job is gender specific11. For example, it would not be necessarily be
appropriate for a woman to provide voice talents for a 45-year-old male character and vice versa. In
cases such as these, claims of gender discrimination or bias will not be pursuable. As Bryan is intended
to a pubescent male with an unbroken voice, and Pigeuo a bird with an unspecified gender and naturally
high pitched vocals, females will be playing these roles, like Tara Strong portraying Ben Tennyson in Ben
10 and so on.
Furthermore, in the interest of encouraging diversity and equality, a combination of sexes will be used
which seek to distance themselves from stereotypical representations. Women will not only be shown
as emotional, attractive and in need of protection, men will not only be portrayed as strong,
independent and pragmatic, for example12.
COPYRIGHT:
Copyrighting serves to protect creators from unlawful use of their work and wrongful crediting.
Essentially, there are two sections to this13;

COPYRIGHTABLE SUBJECT MATTER (works that are covered by copyright law) and;
RIGHTS GRANTED UNDER COPYRIGHT (the rights granted to copyright owners to
control the use of their work)

A plethora of creative products are covered by this law, inclusive of, but not limited to14;

LITERARY
SONG LYRICS, MANUSCRIPTS, MANUALS, COMPUTER PROGRAMS, COMMERCIAL
DOCUMENTS, LEAFLETS, NEWSLETTERS & ARTICLES ETC.
MUSIC
RECORDINGS AND SCORE.

https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/discrimination/discrimination-because-of-sex-or-sexualorientation/discrimination-because-of-sex/#h-victimisation
11
http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/advice-and-guidance/sex-discrimination
12
http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php?pageID=gender
13
http://www.dmlp.org/legal-guide/what-copyright-covers
14
https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law
10

London & Derby

Registered Address: 37 Calvert Street, Derby DE1 2RQ
+44 (0)7905 742 319

ARTISTIC
ARCHITECTURE, TECHNICAL DRAWINGS/DIAGRAMS, MAPS, LOGOS.
SOUND RECORDING
MAY BE RECORDINGS OF OTHER COPYRIGHT WORKS, E.G. MUSICAL AND LITERARY.
FILM
VIDEO FOOTAGE, FILMS, BROADCASTS AND PROGRAMMES.

Copyright law is broken when the work is copyrighted, unlawfully distributed, performed/shown in
public, making an adaptation and so on15. As such, to use any copyright material in The Adventures of
Pigeuo and Bryan, appropriate permissions must be sought. Not doing so could result indictment of up
to ten years and a fine or up to six months imprisonment and/or a fine of (up to) 500016. By requesting
the use of a song, say, the production will avoid expensive legal disputes and so on. By seeking these
early, back-ups can be established if the initial decision is rejected.
Moreover, by copyrighting the production, The Adventures of financial and intellectual protection is
awarded to the director and other required bodies. This will provide the exclusive right to17;

TO COPY THE WORK

TO ISSUE COPIES OF THE WORK TO THE PUBLIC
TO RENT OR LEND THE WORK TO THE PUBLIC
TO PERFORM, SHOW OR PLAY THE WORK IN PUBLIC
TO COMMUNICATE THE WORK TO THE PUBLIC
TO MAKE AN ADAPTATION OF THE WORK OR DO ANY OF THE ABOVE IN RELATION
TO AN ADAPTATION

As such, we are able to decide on the best ways to distribute and share the finished product, without
fear of it being done unlawfully or in a manner that does not correspond with the creative vision for
the piece.

15
16

http://libanswers.anglia.ac.uk/copyright/faq/78776
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/intellectual-property-offences/intellectual-property-offences

17

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/462194/Copyright_Designs_
and_Patents_Act_1988.pdf

London & Derby

Registered Address: 37 Calvert Street, Derby DE1 2RQ
+44 (0)7905 742 319