Legal Issues
Obscene Publications Act
The Obscene Publications Act criminalises the publication of print or online products that are considered obscene. An obscene publication is defined as a print or online publication that is likely to deprave or corrupt (to influence the reader in morally negative ways). This also refers to ensuring that the content published is appropriate for the intended audience, content that relates to: drug abuse, graphic violence, nudity (both in the form of pornography and revenge pornography), is considered obscene and is punishable as a breach of the Obscene Publications Act.
Violating the Obscene Publications Act can lead to 5 years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.
In relation to magazine:
- Awareness of the internet (internet safety)
- Travelling late at night (D&D events are usually held at night)
- Child Safety
Libel Law
Libel is a description of the defamation of a persons or companies reputation expressed through the means of communication embodied in a physical form (print, writing, pictures or signs). The intent of Libel is to ridicule or expose another person or their company in the hope of degrading their reputation. It is important to note that Libel refers very specifically to the written word.
Violating the
In relation to magazine:
- Interviewing the person who runs the events (Patrick)
- Interviewing the owner/ manager of Patriot Games (Salliee or Jim)
- Gaining opinions from the attendees of the events and stating that they are not the opinions of the producers. Also sending the person interviewed the interview notes.
Copyright
Copyright is the unpermitted sharing/ usage of another persons intellectual property within your own products. Copyright also protects your own intellectual property.
In relation to the magazine:
- Creation of my own assets (taking own photos, photoshopping my own assets)
- Designed and created my own original masthead
- Brand that fits my genre (Dungeons and Dragons) and how would gain permission to use their intellectual property (if I was to include them)
Laws of Contempt
It is illegal to report on a current or ongoing legal court case in your media product. This doesn't include any known facts, such as who is involved. Although you can report on the facts, it is prohibited to provide an opinion. In terms of other peoples opinions, you must gain their permission to publish their opinion, and you must reference where you got their opinion from. The reason that providing your opinion is illegal as the court case could become bias due to the Jury reading the article.
You cannot post anything that is too sensationalist referring to a criminal. This also applies to posting on Social Media.
In relation to magazine:
- The magazine will probably have a website
- Stereotypes of magazine genre in relation to court cases that have 'hypothetically occurred due to my genre (Patriot Games and/or Patrick)
- Find a local court case that relate to my genre
Related Court Case:
Wizards of the Coast, the publisher of popular tabletop games Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, has filed a lawsuit against TSR LLC to halt the development and distribution of its upcoming tabletop RPG Star Frontiers: New Genesis.
On September 8, Wizards of the Coast filed a preliminary injunction against TSR, Justin LaNasa, and the Dungeon Hobby Shop Museum in Washington state's district court. Preliminary injunctions are frequently used to prevent one party in a legal struggle from causing more potential harm to a plaintiff before they have the opportunity to file a formal claim.
In this case, Wizards is ceasing manufacturing and distribution of TSR's Star Frontiers: New Genesis, a 1982 tabletop RPG that TSR LLC is attempting to bring back. TSR LLC, also known as NuTSR, is the most recent company to claim the brand and legacy of the defunct TSR Inc., which is best known for publishing in 1973 the original Dungeons & Dragons, which was bought by Wizards in 1997.
In July this year, leaked playtest material hit social media and forums, revealing a torrent of allegedly racist, xenophobic, anti-trans, and alt-right content throughout its worldbuilding and character creation.
For example, in the game, a 'negro' race is classified as a 'Subrace' and having 'average' intellect with a maximum intelligence rating of 9, whereas the 'norse' race has a minimum intelligence rating of 13.
In the injunction, Wizards’ counsel said it “would be irreparably harmed by the publication and distribution of the game using its trademarks because consumers may mistakenly associate Wizards with the reprehensible content of the game, damaging its reputation and goodwill and undermining its efforts to foster a culture that embraces diversity.”
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