Schedule 4: Codes of practice under section 41: principles, objectives, content Chapter 7: Interpretation of Part 3 Section 55: "Regulated user-generated content", "user-generated content", "news publisher content"
This section defines "regulated user-generated content" and describes the types of user-generated content that are exempt from this definition, including "news publisher content". Part 3 duties on regulated user-to-user services apply to "regulated user-generated content".
	Subsections (3) and (4) define "user-generated content". This is content that is generated by a user of the service, or uploaded to or shared on the service by a user of the service, and which may be encountered by another user (or users) by means of the service. This means that content shared only between a user and the service provider (such as through a customer service chat function) would not fall under the definition of user-generated content.
	Subsection (5) defines "one-to-one live aural communications". It states that aural communications between two users which are not accompanied by written messages, videos or other visual images (other than identifying content, such as a user name or profile picture) and which are not recordings of such content, are exempt from the definition of "regulated user-generated content". For example, a one-to-one live voice call over an internet service would not count as "regulated user-generated content", but a one-to-one video call or a recording of a call shared on a regulated service would. This exemption is expressed as applying to "aural" communications, rather than just to "oral" communications, in order to cover all audio communications (i.e. speech and other sounds), rather than simply speech. This ensures that one-to-one calls akin to traditional telephony are not in scope.
	Subsections (6) and (7) define "comments and reviews on provider content" in respect of user-to-user services. This definition encompasses user comments and reviews in relation to all content that is published on a service by the service provider or someone acting on their behalf. These are excluded from the definition of "regulated user-generated content", meaning that user-to-user services have no duties with regard to them. In practice, this means that comments and reviews on recognised news publishers’ sites and on many sites selling goods and services are not in scope of the regulatory framework. This exemption does not exclude comments or reviews on user-generated content, such as content posted by third party sellers offering goods or services on online marketplaces.
	Subsections (8) to (10) define "news publisher content". This includes any content on a service directly generated by a recognised news publisher (as defined in section 56). In addition, it includes content originally published by a recognised news publisher but uploaded to or shared on a service by a user of that service, either in its entirety or by way of a link to the entirety of the material. For example, if a user shares the text of an article copied from a recognised news publisher’s website, with no additions or amendments, that text will not count as user-generated content. If a user amends content generated by a recognised news publisher that content will count as user-generated content, as will any user-generated text or images accompanying the news publisher content.