The document discusses legal and ethical considerations for print media products in the music industry. It provides definitions for copyright, intellectual property rights, slander, libel, royalties, violence, offensive language, and public interest and how these could impact music industry print products. It also describes several regulatory bodies in the music industry, including BASCA, MPA, PRS, OFCOM, PPL, BPI, Songrite UK, and UK Music. It explains what each organization aims to do and how their regulations could impact print work related to music. Students are meant to research these terms and organizations to understand how they may affect their own music industry print products.

1. Learning 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, powtoom, 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 If I use someone else’s images or
products for my CD cover I could be
sued.
Slander/libel If I put someone or something on my
CD cover that is insulting or could take
away some or their credibility I could be
sued.
Royalties If I use images that belong to someone
else I would have to pay a certain
percentage of my profit to them.
Violence If violence is shown on the cover, it may
cause someone to go and copy the
violence shown.
Offensive language/behaviour/material An underage listener could learn bad
language and go on to use it in a school
or public place, I would be responsible
for that and could be taken
Public interest If my product contains derogatory
images or text, it could cause the
welfare to go down.
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
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

2. 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 campaigns for
music and song
writers so they have a
say in the world, this
is because often song
writers and music
producers are blocked
out and not given
what they need and
want.
To help my print
product, my model
could be a part of
BASCA and they
would assist in
helping smaller
song writers and
music producers.
MPA
Music Publishers Association
http://www.mpaonline.org.uk
The MPA helps
smaller artists grow
faster, with the help of
the MPA, smaller
artists can be
supported whilst they
are growing an
audience.
The MPA could
help my model get
into the industry,
this would help my
digipak work grow
and get out into the
public.
PRS
Performing Rights Society (who are
now linked with MCPS – The
Mechanical Copyright Protection
Society)
https://www.prsformusic.com/
The PRS collects and
distributes money and
royalties on behalf of
songwriters who get
no profit from their
music being played.
If a song from the
digipak was used,
we could claim
some money from
the user.
OFCOM
Office of Communications
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/
Ofcom is the regulator
of communication
industries, for
example, if music is
being played on TV,
radio or many more
circumstances, Ofcom
will cover the royalties
needed for those who
are not benefiting
when they should be.
If a song was being
played or used by
someone else and
we hadn’t allowed it
to them, we could
use OFCOM to get
back royalties and
funds that we
should’ve gotten
from the user.

3. PPL
Phonographic Performance Limited
http://www.ppluk.com/
The PPL licenses
recorded music that is
played in public or
broadcasted and
distributes fees to its
performer and record
label.
If the music is being
played by a street
performer or on a
radio without giving
credit to us, we
could claim
BPI
British Phonographic Industry
https://www.bpi.co.uk/default.aspx
The BPI is
responsible for the
commissioning,
distribution, marketing
and promotion of the
UK’s industry
standard music and
video chart and sales
data.
If there was a
problem with
commissioning,
marketing or
promotions the BPI
could help recover
sales and with legal
troubles.
Songrite UK
Songright Copyright Office
http://www.songrite.co.uk/index.html
Songrite UK can help
you get a song or
album copyrighted to
your name so it isn’t
used freely around for
others and cannot be
stolen.
Songrite UK would
be helpful to get the
digipak copyrighted
initially, this would
be so that nobody
steals the idea.
UK Music
(umbrella company linked with
many of the above)
http://www.ukmusic.org/about/
UK Music is an
industry-funded body
that represents the
collective interests of
the British music
industry.
UK Music would be
an overall help and
assist if anything
ever went wrong as
it is linked with
many above.