There are several self regulatory codes agreed upon by the media. There are no legal sanctions for failing to comply with these although the relevant institutions will apply their own penalties; for example, the Press Complaints Commission might order a newspaper to publish the results of their findings criticising the publication in full. Additionally, one of the factors a Court will consider when considering whether to grant an injunction is whether or not the relevant self regulatory code has been complied with.
The main codes are as follows:
- the Press Complaints Commission Code of Conduct which applies to most UK newspapers and magazines and their websites;
- the OFCOM Broadcasting Code which applies to broadcasters (both television and radio) excluding the BBC; and
- the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines.
Schillings are the leading lawyers in reputation management and brand protection; specialising in defamation and privacy for private clients and corporate organisations. Schillings have a very active dispute resolution department and we also provide family and matrimonial advice to our private client base of high-net worth individuals and celebrities. In addition, our sports department manages work in reputational, regulatory and sports sponsorship matters for some of the highest profile sports stars, brands and clubs.
If you have any queries please contact Schillings on 020 7034 9000 or email us at legal@schillings.co.uk