Having seen some controversial works from young and fresh photographers recently, I realised that there is a need for more awareness of the laws that we have to abide, especially with regards to undesirable content in this particular sub forum. More education must be emphasized to our very young photographers so they would not be breaking the law. Hope moderators can emphasize this beside the copyright issue
Undesirable Publications Act Cap. 338 (can be found: http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/devnpolicies.aspx?sid=153)
Take note of these pointers:
Meaning of obscene
3. For the purposes of this Act, a publication is obscene if its effect or (where the publication comprises 2 or more distinct parts or items) the effect of any one of its parts or items is, if taken as a whole, such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it.
Meaning of objectionable
4. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a publication is objectionable if, in the opinion of any controller, it or (where the publication comprises 2 or more distinct parts or items) any one of its parts or items describes, depicts, expresses or otherwise deals with
(a) matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, violence or the consumption of drugs or other intoxicating substances in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good; or
(b) matters of race or religion in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different racial or religious groups.
[2B
[9/98]
(2) In determining for the purposes of this Act whether or not any publication is objectionable, the following matters shall be considered:
(a) the extent and degree to which, and the manner in which, the publication
(i) describes, depicts or otherwise deals with acts of torture, the infliction of serious physical harm, sexual conduct or violence or coercion in association with sexual conduct;
(ii) exploits the nudity of persons or children or both;
(iii) promotes or encourages criminal acts or acts of terrorism;
(iv) represents, directly or indirectly, that members of any particular community or group are inherently inferior to other members of the public or of any other community or group;
(b) the impact of the medium in which the publication is presented;
(c) the character of the publication, including any merit, value or importance that the publication has in relation to literary, artistic, social, cultural, educational, scientific or other matters;
(d) the standards of morality, decency and propriety that are generally accepted by reasonable members of the community; and
(e) the persons, classes of persons or age groups of the persons to whom the publication is intended or is likely to be made available.
Offences
6. (1) Any person who imports, publishes, sells, offers for sale, supplies, offers to supply, exhibits, distributes or reproduces any prohibited publication or any extract therefrom shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for a first offence to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both, and for a subsequent offence to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years.
(2) Any person who without reasonable excuse has in his possession any prohibited publication or any extract therefrom shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for a first offence to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, and for a subsequent offence to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
Internet Industry Guidelines (can be found at http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/devnpolicies.aspx?sid=161)
I hope this will help fellow photographer understand more about this laws
Undesirable Publications Act Cap. 338 (can be found: http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/devnpolicies.aspx?sid=153)
Take note of these pointers:
Meaning of obscene
3. For the purposes of this Act, a publication is obscene if its effect or (where the publication comprises 2 or more distinct parts or items) the effect of any one of its parts or items is, if taken as a whole, such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it.
Meaning of objectionable
4. (1) For the purposes of this Act, a publication is objectionable if, in the opinion of any controller, it or (where the publication comprises 2 or more distinct parts or items) any one of its parts or items describes, depicts, expresses or otherwise deals with
(a) matters such as sex, horror, crime, cruelty, violence or the consumption of drugs or other intoxicating substances in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to be injurious to the public good; or
(b) matters of race or religion in such a manner that the availability of the publication is likely to cause feelings of enmity, hatred, ill-will or hostility between different racial or religious groups.
[2B
[9/98]
(2) In determining for the purposes of this Act whether or not any publication is objectionable, the following matters shall be considered:
(a) the extent and degree to which, and the manner in which, the publication
(i) describes, depicts or otherwise deals with acts of torture, the infliction of serious physical harm, sexual conduct or violence or coercion in association with sexual conduct;
(ii) exploits the nudity of persons or children or both;
(iii) promotes or encourages criminal acts or acts of terrorism;
(iv) represents, directly or indirectly, that members of any particular community or group are inherently inferior to other members of the public or of any other community or group;
(b) the impact of the medium in which the publication is presented;
(c) the character of the publication, including any merit, value or importance that the publication has in relation to literary, artistic, social, cultural, educational, scientific or other matters;
(d) the standards of morality, decency and propriety that are generally accepted by reasonable members of the community; and
(e) the persons, classes of persons or age groups of the persons to whom the publication is intended or is likely to be made available.
Offences
6. (1) Any person who imports, publishes, sells, offers for sale, supplies, offers to supply, exhibits, distributes or reproduces any prohibited publication or any extract therefrom shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for a first offence to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years or to both, and for a subsequent offence to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 4 years.
(2) Any person who without reasonable excuse has in his possession any prohibited publication or any extract therefrom shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction for a first offence to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both, and for a subsequent offence to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
Internet Industry Guidelines (can be found at http://www.mda.gov.sg/wms.www/devnpolicies.aspx?sid=161)
I hope this will help fellow photographer understand more about this laws