Communication Law Cases

CaseDateSubjectContext
***New York Times v Sullivan1964LibelSullivan standard / bedrock libel case
**Brandenburg v Ohio1969Prior restraintImminent action
**Central Hudson v PSC of New York1980AdvertisingFour-part commercial speech test
**Moody v Netchoice2024 Social media FB, X, etc cant be regulated by states
**Near v Minnesota1933Prior restraintState can't ban publications
**New York Times v US1972Prior restraintPentagon papers Vietnam history
**Reno v ACLU1997ObscenityStrikes down Communications Decency Act
*A & M Records v Napster2001CopyrightMusic sharing is not fair use
*Associated Press v US1945AntitrustAP must remove barriers to entry
*Associated Press v Walker1967LibelDelimits Sullivan
*Bollea v Gawker2016PrivacySex tape made public
*Burstyn v Wilson1952Prior restraintEnded film censorship
*Campbell v Acuff-Rose Music1994CopyrightPretty Woman case
*Chaplinsky v New Hampshire1942Prior restraintFighting words case
*Cherry v Des Moines Leader1901LibelFair comment
*Community for Creative Non-Violence v Reid1989CopyrightAuthor / artist keeps copyright absent contract
*Cox v Cohn1975PrivacyAssault victim named
*Curtis v Butts1967LibelDelimited Sullivan
*FCC v Pacifica Foundation1978ObscenityGeorge Carlin broadcasting case
*Forty four (44) Liquormart v Rhode Island1996AdvertisingTruthful ads for alcohol prices are OK
*FTC v Facebook2020Anti-TrustFB purchase WhatsApp, Instagram; dismissed 2021
*Gertz v Welch1974LibelWho is a public person?
*Hustler Mag & Larry Flynt v Jerry Falwell1988LibelIntentional infliction of emotional distress
*Iancu v Brunetti2019TrademarkOKs offensive trademark "Fuct" clothing label
*Miami Herald v Tornillo1974AdvertisingNo right to advertise in print media
*Miller v California1973ObscenityRoth + community standards
*Murthy v Missouri2024 Social media Gov't advise on public health
*Office of Comm of United Church of Christ v FCC1969BroadcastingWLBT Jackson MS
*Regina (Queen) v Hicklin1868ObscenityEarly case punishing obscene publications
*Rex v Zenger1735LibelTruth a defense in libel
*Roth v US1957ObscenityLandmark case striking down Comstockery
*Schenck v US1919Prior restraintClear and present danger case
*Texas v Johnson1989Prior restraintFlag burning is protected symbolic speech
*Tinker v Des Moines Schools1969Prior restraintProtects student speech in high school
*Valentine v Christensen1942AdvertisingAds not protected by 1st Amend
*West Virginia Brd of Ed v Barnette1943Free speechStudents not required to recite pledge of allegiance
*Whitney v California1927Prior restraintNotable dissent for free speech, Justice Brandeis
Barnes v Yahoo2006PrivacyRight to anonymity
Bigelow v Virginia1976AdvertisingAbortion services
Blackhorse v Pro-Football Inc2016TrademarkRedskins name case
Branzburg v Hayes1972Reporter privRefused grand jury testimony
Capitol Records v Thomas-Rasset2012CopyrightHigh fines for music downloads
Cohen v California1971Prior restraintDraft resistor case
Cohen v Cowles Media1991Reporter privSource protection
Collier v Postum1907LibelAds for Grape Nuts dangerous
County of Allegheny v. ACLU1989Prior restraintChristmas displays
Cubby v Compuserv1991LibelDigital media responsibility
Edwards v National Audubon Society1977LibelNeutral reportage defense
Eldred v Ashcroft2003CopyrightDuration of protection
Elonis v United States2015Social media Threats on social media
Friends of the Earth v FCC1971BroadcastingFairness doctrine in TV advertising
Gannett v Depasquale1979Press - trialClosed courtrooms, reversed by Richmond v Va
Gonzalez v Google Spain (EU case)2014Privacy RTBFEU upheld Google "delisting" of minor private issues
Hazelwood v Kuhlmeier1988Prior restraintAllowed censorship of high school media
Holder v Humanitarian Law Project2010Prior restraintLaws limit speech about terrorist groups
Howard v Des Moines Register1979PrivacyNamed victim of state sterilization
Hurley v Irish American LGBT Boston1995Prior restraintRight of association case
Hutchinson v Proxmire1979LibelPress release by Senator not privileged
Lehman v Shaker Heights1974AdvertisingLehman rule for publicly owned media (bus posters etc)
Loraine Journal Co v US1951AntitrustRefusal to deal case
Mahanoy Schools v B.L.2021Prior restraintHigh school student profanity off campus, on Snapchat
Mann v Simberg, Steyn 2024 Libel Climate scientist awarded $1 million
Matal v Tam2017TrademarkOKs offensive trademark "Slants"
MGM Studios Inc v Grokster Ltd2005CopyrightCircumventing software
Mutual Film v Industrial Comm of Ohio1915Prior restraintFilm censorship OK
NAACP v Alabama (Patterson)1958Prior restraintRight of association
Nebraska Press Assn v Stewart1976Prior restraintCourts cant gag media
Nike v Kasky2003AdvertisingPublic relations versus truth in advertising
Ollman v Evans1979LibelDefines fact
Palin v New York Times2022LibelDismissed 2022
Pope v Illinois1989ObscenityModifies Miller standard
Prager v YouTube (Google) 2020Prior restraintPrager censorship challenge failed
RAV v St Paul1992Hate speechExtra punishment for hate speech
Red Lion Media v FCC1969BroadcastingUpheld Fairness Doctrine
Reed v Town of Gilbert2015Prior restraintTown rules on sign content unconstitutional
Richmond Newspapers v Virginia1980Press - trialRe-opens courtrooms as per 6th Amendment
RJ Reynolds v FDA2011AdvertisingTobacco case
Roberson v Rochester Folding Box Co.1902Privacymisappropriation of likeness case
Rosenberger v Rectors of the University of Virginia1995Prior restraintStudent media funding must be objective
Rubin v Coors1995AdvertisingCan ban truthful info
Search King v Google2003Prior restraintGoogle has First Amendment rights, not its customers
Sheppard v Maxwell1966Press - trialSet rules for covering courts
Sherrod v Brietbart2011PrivacyFalse light deliberately misleading video edits
Sipple v Chronicle Publishing1984PrivacyPrivacy case where hero outed as gay
Smith v Daily Mail1979PrivacyJuvenile ID laws
Snyder v Phelps2011Prior restraintWestboro church can protest funerals
Sony v Universal City Studios1984CopyrightVCR time shifting is OK
Stratton Oakmont v Prodigy1995LibelDigital media responsibility
Texas Beef Group v Oprah Winfree1998LibelCourt sides with Oprah in mad cow controversy
Trinity Methodist Church v FRC1933Prior restraintAllowed FCC (then FRC) to rescind license
US v Alvarez2012PrivacyStolen Valor Act overly broad
US v Bolton2020Prior restraintBook by Nat'l Security Advisor John Bolton
US v NBC1943AntitrustSplit NBC red & blue networks to create ABC
US v OBrien1968Prior restraintDraft card burning is not protected speech
US v Paramount Pictures1948AntitrustTheaters - studio ties violate anti-trust
US v Press Publishing Co (NY World)1911LibelLibel case brought by Teddy Roosevelt against Pulitzer's World
US v Stevens2010Prior restraintAnimal cruelty video ban was overly broad
VA Brd Pharm v Va Cit. Consumer Council1976AdvertisingBrd cant restrict generic advertising
Viacom v YouTube (Google)2012CopyrightDMCA shields Google from infringement
Virginia v Black2003Prior restraintCross burning for intimidation not protected by First Amendment
Ward v. Rock Against Racism1989Prior restraintLoud music in Central Park OK if technically focused
White-Smith Music Publishing Co v Apollo1908Copyright"Player" piano music rolls not copyrightable
Wilson v Layne1999PrivacyPhotography during police search not OK
Zeran v AOL1997LibelCDA section 230 found Constitutional
Zurcher v Stanford Daily1976Reporter privNewsroom search
*Dominion v Fox News 2023LibelFox Network paid over $750 million
*US v Google2024 Antitrust Dept Justice wins monopoly case

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