WIKIRestrictions on parliamentary video use
Restrictions on parliamentary video use, particularly a restriction on parliamentary coverage being used in the context of light entertainment, are generally respected by UK broadcasters.
Since 1989, when cameras were permitted into the Houses of Parliament, broadcasters have had to agree to licensing conditions[1] that have restricted use, such as:
a) no extracts of Parliamentary proceedings may be used in any light entertainment programme or in a programme of political satire;
Effects and criticism
In 2011, an edition of US satire show The Daily Show was not broadcast[2] by Channel 4 as a result of the licensing restrictions.
In 2016 a question was raised by Rupa Huq[3] on behalf of Charlie Brooker[4][5] on the matter of revisiting the restrictions.
When Last Week Tonight used parliamentary footage in December 2018[6] they replaced it in the UK broadcast[7].
It was raised in parliament again[8] in June 2019 by Nigel Huddleston MP.
Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 exceptions
As noted by ORG at the time[9] section 30A of The Copyright and Rights in Performances (Quotation and Parody) Regulations 2014, updating the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, was introduced to allow an exception to copyright for satire and parody (as allowed by the Infosec Directive (2001/29) ). Since there are no exceptions in the law for parliamentary footage, this would override the stated licensing terms.
(1) Fair dealing with a work for the purposes of caricature, parody or pastiche does not infringe copyright in the work.
Links
References
- ↑ Licence to use Parliamentary proceedings from the House of Commons for Broadcast, Parliamentary Recording Unit (amended May 2016)
- ↑ Why our parliament is literally beyond satire, New Statesman
- ↑ Hansard, 2016-03-05
- ↑ Charlie Brooker Wants Politicians To Let Him Take The Piss Out Of Politics, Buzzfeed
- ↑ Chris Grayling: Satirical television programmes should not be allowed to use footage of inside parliament, Telegraph, 2016-03-03
- ↑ This is the John Oliver footage they didn't air in the UK for reasons so stupid I'm going to have to just let him explain in the tweet below.
- ↑ Brexit Update - UK Version: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO), YouTube
- ↑ Hansard, 2019-06-06
- ↑ Will we now see parliamentary footage used in parodies?, Open Rights Group blog