McLibel

Synopsis: The story of two ordinary people, Dave Morris and Helen Steel, who took on McDonalds in what became the biggest corporate PR disaster in history. They refused to apologise for publishing a leaflet criticising McDonalds and the company took them to court. McDonalds had a £10 million legal team and Steel and Morris defended themselves. Arguments raged about the burgers themselves, the conditions of the company’s workers and the welfare of its animals. The film examines whether McDonalds unfairly targets children with its TV advertising and marketing tactics or whether this is just standard business practice. McDonalds won the legal case but not the battle of the headlines. The film highlights the importance of free speech at a time when multinational companies have become more powerful than some countries.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Medium: Video; Videocassette. VHS. col. 50 min.
Year of release: 2005
Year of production: 2005
Availability: Sale; 1998 sale: £14.99 (inclusive)
Notes: This is an edited version of the 85-minute Storyville programme broadcast on BBC4 on 14/4/05
Subjects: Business studies; Economics; Law; Sociology
Keywords: animal welfare; civil law; libel law; multinational corporations; globalisation

Name: TV Choice Ltd
Email: tvchoiceuk@aol.com
Web: http://www.tvchoice.uk.com External site opens in new window
Phone: 020 8464 7402
Fax: 020 8464 7845
Address: PO Box 597
Bromley
Kent
BR2 0YB
Notes: Producer and distributor of over 100 educational videos and DVDs, most with support materials, designed for use in UK schools, colleges and universities. Wide coverage across the curriculum, but particularly strong in the areas of business/management, ICT, geography, DT/manufacturing, history, English/media studies, PSHE, and leisure/tourism.

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British Universities Film & Video Council