Vol. 561 No. 1
203 Mr. Naughten asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the copyright legislation covers the unauthorised video recording of children and storage of such material, other than on security cameras; if she intends to review the legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3770/03]
For the purposes of copyright, video recordings are categorised as films. The first ownership of copyright in films is normally vested in the producer of the film and in its director or, where such individuals act as producer and director in the course of employment, in their employer. Generally, from a copyright standpoint, authorisation is not required for the filming of a person. However, the making, distribution or making available of certain films may give rise to civil or criminal liability under other areas of the law dealing, for example, with privacy matters or the suppression of child pornography. The Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000 contains no specific disqualification of works in these categories from copyright protection, and since making or dealing in a film consisting, for example, of child pornography is clearly contrary to the criminal law, copyright protection of such works would appear to be of no value to its maker.
