Regulation of the film industry

Regulations - the rules that each media industry needs to follow

The regulatory framework of the UK film industry 

• The BBFC (British Board Of Film Classification), they put ratings on the film for age and restrictions. Every film that is showed or put on video in the UK needs to be rated by the BBFC.
• It is legal to watch a film, even if you're below the age rating.

	Universal Children
	Titles rated bbfc-uc have been classified suitable for all.
	Universal
	Titles rated bbfc-u have been classified suitable for all.
	Parental Guidance
	Titles rated bbfc-pg are for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.
	12 Accompanied/Advisory
	Titles rated bbfc-12a are suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a '12A' film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult.
	12
	Titles rated bbfc-12 are for 12 and over. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a '12' rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.
	15
	Titles rated bbfc-15 are suitable only for 15 years and over. No-one younger than 15 may see a '15' film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a '15' rated video or DVD.
	18
	Titles rated bbfc-18 are suitable only for adults. No-one younger than 18 may see an '18' film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an '18' rated video.
	Restricted 18
	Titles rated bbfc-r18 are to be shown only in specially licensed cinemas, or supplied only in licensed sex shops, and to adults of not less than 18 years.
	TBC (To Be Confirmed)
	Titles carrying the bbfc-tbc marker have been submitted to the BBFC and are awaiting final rating. The "TBC" mark is superimposed over the category symbol that the final game is being submitted for, and a title may not carry the same certification in the end product as its early TBC markers state if the product does not meet that rating's guidelines. (This symbol appears only in advertising prior to a game's release.)

One of the problems with this is that

• it is subjective
• it is not very effective at all
• it is easy to avoid BBFC ratings, you can just get someone to buy it for you if you're not old enough.

In 2007 it was pointed out that although the film Hostel Part 2 was passed uncut by British censors, owning screenshots of the film would be illegal under section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration act 2008, which criminalised the possession of extreme pornography.

This shows how context matters.