Copyright and Quotation in Film and TV

This paper explores the application of the exception permitting quotation, first introduced into UK law in 2014, to film and television. It seeks to demonstrate that the concept of quotation is broad and thus that this exception offers much-needed flexibility to film-makers to utilise copyright-protected material without obtaining permission to do so. The paper explains some of the key limitations on the availability of the defence, in particular, the requirement of fair dealing (or use in accordance with fair practice) and sufficient acknowledgment (attribution). The significance of the exception is examined through three examples: Love is the Devil, Titanic and the art piece The Clock.