Lady Thatcher has sued the
BBC
for copyright
infringement, after the corporation repeatedly used a quote from
her televised memoirs to advertise a later series of programmes,
according to the Independent newspaper.
The phrase "treachery with a smile on its face"
was taken from her televised memoirs Thatcher – The Downing Street
Years, first broadcast in the early 1990s. It was allegedly used by
the
BBC
without permission to advertise a week-long
series of programmes about the former Prime Minister.
Copyright in the clip, according to the Independent, rests
with Lady Thatcher and the production company Fine Art – both of
whom are now seeking damages for copyright infringement from
BBC
Broadcast and the
UKTV
channel.
The
BBC
admits the infringement but has not
agreed a figure for compensation, according to The
Independent.
Yvonne Dunn, a media law specialist with Pinsent Masons, the
law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM, said:
"This is an interesting case where an independent producer is
flexing its muscles against a broadcaster. It serves as a warning
that any use of copyright material belonging to someone else must
be cleared to avoid expensive litigation and damaging
publicity."
