Division 59
Film, TV & Music Production
Requirements for all film, tv & music production
These requirements apply to all business activities in this division.
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 — copyright and related rights
Enforced by IPO
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The core regime for the industry. Films, sound recordings, broadcasts, musical and literary works are protected works; producers must clear and license rights in pre-existing material (music sync/mechanical, archive footage, scripts) and respect performers' rights and moral rights. There is no registration — copyright arises automatically. The Intellectual Property Office administers the wider IP framework; infringement is enforced through the civil courts (with criminal offences for commercial-scale piracy).
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 — general duties
Enforced by HSE
Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
General duty to protect employees and others affected by the business. Film/TV production is higher-risk than most office work — stunts, rigging, working at height, electrical, sets and locations — and HSE publishes specific guidance for the entertainment and live-performance sector.
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Enforced by HSE
Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969
Compulsory for any business employing at least one person. Production companies engaging crew or cast as employees must hold cover; the heavy use of freelance and short-engagement crew makes the employee/contractor boundary a recurring compliance point.
UK GDPR + Data Protection Act 2018
Enforced by ICO
Data Protection Act 2018; UK GDPR (retained EU law)
Applies to any business processing personal data — staff, contributors, talent, audience and subscriber data. Contributor releases, casting databases and on-screen identification of individuals all raise data-protection (and, for journalism/documentary, exemption) questions. ICO registration unless specifically exempt.
Equality Act 2010 — protected characteristics
Enforced by EHRC
Equality Act 2010
Discrimination, harassment and victimisation prohibited across nine protected characteristics in employment, casting and the provision of services. Casting for authenticity can engage the occupational-requirement exception, which must be justified.
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
Enforced by LOCAL_FIRE_AUTHORITY
Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
The responsible person must carry out a fire risk assessment and maintain fire-safety arrangements for studios, offices, edit suites and cinema premises. Devolved variants: Fire (Scotland) Act 2005; Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006.