The R18 certificate represents a film or video classification given by the British Board of Film Classification. It is intended to provide a classification for works that are within British obscenity laws, but exceed what the BBFC considers acceptable for its 18 certificate. In practice, this means hardcore pornography. Image File history File links BBFC R18 category symbol File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... British Board of Film Classification logo The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), originally British Board of Film Censors, is the organisation responsible for film and some video game classification and censorship within the United Kingdom. ... The 18 certificate is issued by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to state that, in its opinion, a film or video recording should not be seen or purchased by a person under 18 years old. ... Jenna Jameson with Savanna Samson in a classic hardcore porn movie, The New Devil In Miss Jones (2005) Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. ... Pornography (from Greek πόρνη (porne) prostitute and γραφή (grafe) writing), more informally referred to as porn or porno, is the representation of the human body or sexual activity with the goal of sexual arousal. ...

Under the terms of the 1984 Video Recordings Act all videos sold or distributed within the UK must either be given a certificate by the BBFC, or ruled exempt by them. Uncertificated recordings are not legal, regardless of content. The R18 certificate is the most restrictive of the certificates, and videos given this certificate may only be sold in licensed shops — almost always sex shops. According to the BBFC there are currently around 90 such licensed shops. R18 certificated material also may not be sold by via mail order or other remote means such as by telephone or over the Internet. The Video Recordings Act is a UK Act of Parliament that was passed into law in 1984. ... Front window of a Tokyo sex shop advertising adult toys A sex shop is a shop that sells products such as sex toys, pornography, erotic lingerie, erotic books, and safer sex products such as condoms and dental dams. ... Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. ... The telephone or phone is a telecommunications device which is used to transmit and receive sound (most commonly voice and speech) across distance. ...

Since the boundary of British obscenity law is vague, the BBFC deliberately errs on the side of caution. It specifies in detail what kinds of acts are permitted to be depicted in works receiving an R18 certificate, and which are not. In particular, it prohibits the depiction of acts which are illegal, degrading, violent or non-consensual. However, apart from these restrictions, it allows the depiction of most sex acts, including vaginal sexual intercourse, oral sex, masturbation, and anal sex, between any combination of men and women. It also has recently allowed the depiction of visibly consensual sexual bondage and very mild BDSM activities. Censorship in the United Kingdom has a long history with variously stringent and lax laws in place at different times. ... For a discussion of the broader scope of human sexual activity, see human sexual behavior and list of sex positions. ... Oral sex consists of all the sexual activities that involve the use of the mouth, tongue, and possibly throat to stimulate genitalia. ... Sitting woman, Drawing 1916 by Gustav Klimt Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation, particularly of ones own genitals, often to the point of orgasm, that is accomplished manually, by other types of bodily contact (except for sexual intercourse), by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these... Roman men having anal sex. ... A model in bondage cuffs with a leg spreader In the context of BDSM, bondage involves people being tied up or otherwise restrained for pleasure. ... A collar is a common symbol in BDSM. BDSM is any of a number of related patterns of human sexual behavior. ...

There has been some controversy about the prohibition of the depiction of female ejaculation, which the BBFC considers to be the same as urination during sex, the depiction of which it regards as "degrading or dehumanising". As of 2005, the BBFC still appears to regard the depiction of urination on oneself or others, "urination accompanied by sexual activity", or "immediately before/after", sexual activity, or with licking of urine, as prohibited by the Obscene Publications Act 1959. Nevertheless, the BBFC appears to have R18-rated a number of videos based on the theme of urination (presumably without any of the acts referred to above). Statue depicting female emissions from an ancient Hindu temple in Karnataka, India, c. ... Manneken Pis of Brussels. ... Since 1857, a series of obscenity laws known as the Obscene Publications Acts have governed what can be published in the United Kingdom. ...

As of 2004, the broadcasting of R18 material is prohibited, even on encrypted digital channels. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Marketing Note: broadcasting is also a term for hand sowing. ...

History of the R18 certificate

The R18 classification was created in 1982 in response to the recommendatations in 1979 of the Home Office Committee on Obscenity and Film Censorship chaired by Sir Bernard Williams. Originally it was only used for films featuring simulated sex only, but the BBFC found itself forced to award R18 certificates to hardcore films in 2000 after a series of legal appeals and a judicial review of those appeals. Sir Bernard Arthur Owen Williams (September 21, 1929 – June 10, 2003) was an English moral philosopher, noted by The Times as the most brilliant and most important British moral philosopher of his time. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Judicial review is the power of a court to review a statute, or an official action or inaction, for constitutionality. ...

The introduction of the R18 certificate for hardcore films is widely seen by observers as a reaction to more liberal attitudes in British society to pornography, the de facto legalization of the import of hardcore pornography (but not its sale) across the EU because of customs law harmonization, and the widespread availability of unregulated pornography over the Internet.

Recent developments

The BBFC has previously granted 18 certificates for movies containing short scenes of unsimulated sex, such as Catherine Breillat's Romance (in 1999), Virginie Despentes's Baise Moi (in 2000) and Patrice Chereau's Intimacy (in 2001). Catherine Breillat (born July 13, 1948) is a filmmaker and director based in Paris. ... Romance (Romance X) is a 1999 French movie written and directed by Catherine Breillat. ... Virginie Despentes is a French novelist and filmmaker born June 13, 1969 in Nancy, France. ... Baise-moi is a novel by French author Virginie Despentes, first published in 1999. ... Patrice Chéreau (born 1944) is a French director and film maker. ... This is the article about the movie Intimacy. ...

As of 2004, a review is in progress of the classification and regulation system, and the BBFC is currently being challenged by video distributors to award 18 certificates to material which currently falls under the R18 guidelines. If this succeeds, the R18 classification may cease to have any distinction from the 18 certificate. 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In October 2004, the BBFC granted an 18 certificate for Michael Winterbottom's movie 9 Songs, which features a number of explicit scenes of unsimulated sex. It is unclear whether this marks the end of the R18 certificate, or whether the BBFC will apply an "artistic merit" test to distinguish between films which are acceptable for 18 certificates and those which receive only R18 certificates. However, the DVD extras for this film were given an R18 certificate. Winterbottom at the Toronto International Film Festival. ... 9 Songs is a 2004 British film, directed by Michael Winterbottom. ... Artistic merit is an English language term that is used in relation to cultural products when referring to the judgment of their perceived quality or value as works of art. ...

A press release from the BBFC on 20 July 2005 indicated that the VAC appeal had been won by them. The R18 certificate is thus here to stay for the time being. A news release or press release is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something claimed as having news value. ...

As of 2006, the BBFC rated the film Destricted an 18 certificate on the understanding that all copies include a warning that it contains real sex has been seen by some to be liberalisation of BBFC granting of 18 certificates as the film contains many unsimulated sex scenes. Destricted is a series of seven short films addressing each directors views on the subjects of sex and pornography. ...

External links

• BBFC R18 guidelines
• Screen Online article about the R18 certificate
• The Melon Farmers article about the R18 judicial review
• Guardian article about 18 certificate for 9 Songs