h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The printing firm I work for has just been approached about printing some DVD covers for a Film Company which appear to shoot porn films. There is no under-age material or violence without consent but they have very graphic photos of both sexes in extreme aroused states.

The films "appear" to have been classified by the British Board of Censors but we need to know if we are breaking any laws if we print this stuff.

When the covers are finished, we will deliver them to the film company and that would be our point of contact over.

I wonder if any of you clever folks know of any guidelines to this sort of thing?

thanks

If it's been given a certificate by the BBFC then it's not illegal.

If in doubt about the certification, get in touch with the BBFC-they must have a contact point where information like this is available.

I'll have a think on it and get back to you later, but there are no hard and fast rules about pornography anymorre, as the passing of Irreversible with a nine minute rape scene intact, just this week, has made abundantly clear.

I remember hearing on the TV that if you look at a map of the UK and then locate the Mull of Kintyre hanging down off scotland, you aren't allowed to show chaps more, erm, upright than that This might just be on film though.

Ridiculous really, as there don't seem to be as much restriction on female genitalia. I guess that is because the rules were made by men (mainly) and they don't want to see anything that might put their own equipment to shame

Europeans could probably use the map of Sweden on the 2 Euro coin, if they find the Mull of Kintyre too obscure.

My work would rather not get in touch with the BBFC at the moment for fear of going down on their records as "Smut Printers -South london" !!

You'll forgive me for saying that that seems somewhat illogical?

The options appear to be;

1) Not make the enquiry and risk printing something illegal
2) Make the enquiry and clear the matter up. I doubt the BBFC even keep records of the type that you suggest-they have no statutory power to prosecute or even investigate. They simply watch and classify what is put before them.

Your firm has ostensibly been approached to undertake a totally legal printing job. The BBFC aren't there to make moral judgements of people making a living, just to 'protect' us innocent and simple fools from being exposed to gratuitous nastiness.

You'll forgive me for saying that that seems somewhat illogical?

The options appear to be;

1) Not make the enquiry and risk printing something illegal
2) Make the enquiry and clear the matter up. I doubt the BBFC even keep records of the type that you suggest-they have no statutory power to prosecute or even investigate. They simply watch and classify what is put before them.

Your firm has ostensibly been approached to undertake a totally legal printing job. The BBFC aren't there to make moral judgements of people making a living, just to 'protect' us innocent and simple fools from being exposed to gratuitous nastiness.

You'll forgive me for saying that that seems somewhat illogical?

The options appear to be;

1) Not make the enquiry and risk printing something illegal
2) Make the enquiry and clear the matter up. I doubt the BBFC even keep records of the type that you suggest-they have no statutory power to prosecute or even investigate. They simply watch and classify what is put before them.

Your firm has ostensibly been approached to undertake a totally legal printing job. The BBFC aren't there to make moral judgements of people making a living, just to 'protect' us innocent and simple fools from being exposed to gratuitous nastiness.

If your company has qualms about somebody thinking they are printing 'smut' by taking on this type of job, then I suggest they don't take the job full stop.

B****r.

Now *that* is something I definitely doubt they could print legally

Indeed.

Though as American Tango in Paris has *always* been uncut in this country, I wonder...I suspect it comes down to how graphic the pictures are.

Pretty damn graphic. Without going too much into details, we have a lovely selection of ejaculation shots, penetration (every orifice available) + some classy vegetable abuse!!

In context, its just people having sex which we have no problem with...... hey, people do it all the time (and i must say, they all seem to be having a jolly good time!), we are just being careful.

Umm, how to put this without sound ing like to much of a pervert...

I have... encountered DVDs and Videos like this, and that had a 18R certificate, making them perfectly legal, as long as they were only sold in licenced sex-shops or via mail order. I don't think there much (apart from under age sex) that can't be given a 18R rating.

Hmm, it sounds as though someone is certainly pushing the boundaries of good taste, and somebody might certainly be open for prosecution under laws about the *displaying* of obscene materials, but that would depend on *where* it was going to be displayed. (You can't be shocked by stuff in a porn shop, because what else did you expect to find there?, is the logic.)

As to whether the printing firm can prosecuted for printing a selection of stills from a film that has been passed as suitable for viewing by the general public by the BBFC is another matter.

Oh, hold on, a lawyer has entered the room. I will ask him and get back to you.

As far as we know, they are only being sold in sex shops - in this country they are illegal to post.

Right, I have consulted with a learned member of the legal profession, and we are 'ad idem'.

Your company *has* to ask to see a copy of the BBFC certification from the makers of the video. If they are legitimate, they should have no problem in providing a copy of that document to you. If they prevaricate, or ask why, we'd suggest pqassing on the job, out of a (possible abundance) of caution.

There can be no offence committed if the pictures that are on the cover of the video are contained in the video, and the video has been passed by the BBFC.

It does sound to us as though this an 18R for specialist retail an mail order distribution. That's fine.

Your firm has to show 'reasonable diligence' in ensuring that the film has BBFC certification, and that that certification is 18R (though I can't see for the life of me how it would be anything else given the material you describe). An 18 certificate means that this could end up on sale in HMV, and that could lead to problems with obscene material as I stated earlier.

That'll be 3K in legal fees please.

Blues Shark (+ everyone else) thanks for all your help, we are now much clearer on where we stand.

Blues Shark, as for your legal fees, we are cash strapped at the moment, prehaps some copies of the covers will suffice as payment!

Shh! Mina might hear and then it would be no use to me!

£3000 for some dodgy pictures?

I think you're slipping into the porn industry frame of mind all too easily Superdogmonkey