an independent body called the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) before they could legally be released in the United Kingdom. There were some exceptions to this, such as music, educational, documentary and religious programmes providing they contained no profanity, sexual or violent content. These could be released with an Exempt status. Everything else had to be classified - and the costs of getting a cassette classified were quite high! Before the VRA (Video Recordings Act) came into force, videos were not subject to classification, certification or censorship by any official means (although some companies chose to implement their own, and of course the Obscene Publications Act (1959) meant hardcore pornography would have been swiftly and severely dealt with (at least if it was on ready display). The Video Recordings Act left uncertified titles in limbo, and unless a distributor acquires them and releases them with a BBFC classification, all titles fall under sections 9 and 10, which state:- Section 9 - Supplying video recording of unclassified work. (1) A person who supplies or offers to supply a video recording containing a video work in respect of which no classification certificate has been issued is guilty of an offence unless — (a) the supply is, or would be if it took place, an exempted supply, or (b) the video work is an exempted work. (2) It is a defence to a charge of committing an offence under this section to prove that the accused believed on reasonable grounds — (a) that the video work concerned or, if the video recording contained more than one work to which the charge relates, each of those works was either an exempted work or a work in respect of which a classification certificate had been issued, or (b) that the supply was, or would if it took place be, an exempted supply by virtue of section 3(4) or (5) of this Act. (3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable — (a) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or a fine or both, (b) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding £20,000 or both. Section 10 Possession of video recording of unclassified work for the purposes of supply. (1) Where a video recording contains a video work in respect of which no