Comments on: Legal Danger: Comics in Britain! http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/30/legal-danger-comics-in-britain/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:24:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Paul O'Brien http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/30/legal-danger-comics-in-britain/#comment-2898409 Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:35:16 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/30/legal-danger-comics-in-britain/#comment-2898409 This is a complete non-story. The new legislation is section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which criminalises the possession of "extreme pornographic images." But it only applies to images which depict "in an explicit and realistic way" certain specific acts: life-threatening violence; serious injury to the breasts, anus or genitals; necrophilia; and bestiality. Moreover, it only applies where "a reasonable person looking at the image would think that any such person or animal was real." In theory that could cover dramatic reconstructions, but it's not going to cover comics unless they're photo-strips or staggeringly photorealistic. As for the exemption for classified films, the point is that if it's classified, the BBFC must already have ruled that the material is not obscene. The exemption simply makes sure that decision is binding for all purposes. Here's the section: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/ukpga_20080004_en_9#pt5-pb1-l1g63 This is a complete non-story. The new legislation is section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which criminalises the possession of “extreme pornographic images.”

But it only applies to images which depict “in an explicit and realistic way” certain specific acts: life-threatening violence; serious injury to the breasts, anus or genitals; necrophilia; and bestiality.

Moreover, it only applies where “a reasonable person looking at the image would think that any such person or animal was real.”

In theory that could cover dramatic reconstructions, but it’s not going to cover comics unless they’re photo-strips or staggeringly photorealistic.

As for the exemption for classified films, the point is that if it’s classified, the BBFC must already have ruled that the material is not obscene. The exemption simply makes sure that decision is binding for all purposes.

Here’s the section: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2008/ukpga_20080004_en_9#pt5-pb1-l1g63

]]> by: Synsidar http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/30/legal-danger-comics-in-britain/#comment-2897761 Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:19:40 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2009/01/30/legal-danger-comics-in-britain/#comment-2897761 My guess is that the legislation is based on the assumption that films “given an official classification” will be produced for artistic purposes, whereas paper publications that aren’t rated (I’m assuming that Britain has a ratings system for films) might not be produced with the same intentions. SRS My guess is that the legislation is based on the assumption that films “given an official classification” will be produced for artistic purposes, whereas paper publications that aren’t rated (I’m assuming that Britain has a ratings system for films) might not be produced with the same intentions.

SRS

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