Legal checks when making a video

Companies and organisations are increasingly using videos shot on mobile phones to promote themselves and their campaigns.

As well as being relatively cheap, they can be fun to work on and – when well done – reap huge benefits.

But there are also pitfalls if you fail to carry out relevant checks before filming and editing.

Here are the legalities you need to bear in mind before embarking on any project:

Do you have permission from everyone you film? Ask people to sign a consent form which says they are happy to be included in the video and specifies how the video might be used – on your website, on social media and on TV.
If you are filming anyone under 18, you must have the written permission of their parents or guardians to feature them.
Under GDPR, if a person changes their mind later and no longer wishes to feature in the video you must remove them – either editing them out or taking the video down if necessary.
Any images you use, such as newspaper headlines, or stock shots you take from the internet, plus music may be subject to copyright. It is vital to make sure you own the copyright of any images. Similarly, if you want to use music, it is better to use free music available from the likes of iMovie or buy it from a music production house, which is often free or may cost no more than £100.

Dealing with the legal small print may seem like a hassle but it generally takes little time and, as the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.