The Video Recordings Act 1984 (Exempted Video Works) Regulations 2014

Cases in which video works are not exempted works

2.—(1) Section 2 of the Video Recordings Act 1984 (exempted works) is amended as follows.

(2) In subsection (1), for “(2) or (3)”, substitute “(1ZA)”.

(3) After that subsection, insert—

“(1ZA) A video work other than a video game is not an exempted work for those purposes if it does one or more of the following—

(a) it depicts or promotes violence or threats of violence;

(b) it depicts the immediate aftermath of violence on human or animal characters;

(c) it depicts an imitable dangerous activity without also depicting that the activity may endanger the welfare or health of a human or animal character;

(d) it promotes an imitable dangerous activity;

(e) it depicts or promotes activities involving illegal drugs or the misuse of drugs;

(f) it promotes the use of alcohol or tobacco;

(g) it depicts or promotes suicide or attempted suicide, or depicts the immediate aftermath of such an event;

(h) it depicts or promotes any act of scarification or mutilation of a person, or of self-harm, or depicts the immediate aftermath of such an act;

(i) it depicts techniques likely to be useful in the commission of offences or, through its depiction of criminal activity, promotes the commission of offences;

(j) it includes words or images intended or likely to convey a sexual message (ignoring words or images depicting any mild sexual behaviour);

(k) it depicts human sexual activity (ignoring any depictions of mild sexual activity);

(l) it depicts or promotes acts of force or restraint associated with human sexual activity;

(m) it depicts human genital organs or human urinary or excretory functions (unless the depiction is for a medical, scientific or educational purpose);

(n) it includes swearing (ignoring any mild bad language); or

(o) it includes words or images that are intended or likely (to any extent) to cause offence, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

(1ZB) For the purposes of subsection (1ZA), a video work promotes something if the work is likely (to any extent) to stimulate or encourage that thing.

(1ZC) In subsection (1ZA)—

“human or animal character” means a character that is or whose appearance is similar to that of—

(a)

a human being, or

(b)

an animal that exists or has existed in real life,

but does not include a simple stick character or any equally basic representation of a human being or animal;

“imitable dangerous activity” means an activity which—

(a)

if imitated by a person, may endanger the welfare or health of any person or animal, and

(b)

may be easily imitated by a person; and

“violence” does not include any violence that is—

(a)

mild, or

(b)

not directed towards human or animal characters,

unless it is sexual violence..”.

(4) In subsections (2) and (3), for “video work” substitute “video game”.