Communications law is almost always civil (not criminal) in the US,\u00a0 Europe and Latin America.\u00a0 A civil law case is a legal contest between\u00a0 individuals or corporations. It the government is involved, it’s usually because an individual public official has been named. The US government does not bring libel suits, and only individuals in the government can be sued.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\r\n
A civil case revolves around both a) damages and financial compensation and b) requests for the court to act in a way that benefits either the petitioner (plaintiff) or respondent (defendant).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Communications law in the US\u00a0 involves many First Amendment issues directly, but some only indirectly. For example, issues involving the establishment of religion clause or symbolic speech (flag burning) are not\u00a0 necessarily media issues but can be First Amendment issues.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n
By the same token, a good deal of media law involves non-First Amendment areas such as copyright or broadcasting regulations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Communication law involves both content issues and structural issues.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n Communications law does not include<\/strong> all elements of Entertainment Law<\/a> as Wikipedia defines it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n US MEDIA\u00a0 CONTENT REGULATION\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \n US MEDIA\u00a0 STRUCTURAL REGULATION\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n \n Communications law is almost always civil (not criminal) in the US,\u00a0 Europe and Latin America.\u00a0 A civil law case is a legal contest between\u00a0 individuals or corporations. It the government is involved, it’s usually because an individual public official has … Continue reading \r\n
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\n\t \nMedia type<\/th> Content Issues<\/th> Resolved through <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t All <\/td> Prior restraint \/ censorship <\/td> Federal agencies seek court injunctions
\nVery high burden of proof on government
\nMilitary & national security exceptions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t All<\/td> Defamation \/ Libel <\/td> Private civil lawsuits only
\nPublic figures bringing suit have high burden of proof<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t All<\/td> Invasion of Privacy \/ False light, publication of private facts<\/td> Private civil lawsuits only, usually state courts,
\nPublic figures bringing suit have high burden of proof<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t All media, esp. photography<\/td> Invasion of Privacy \/ intrusion by media, misappropriation of likeness<\/td> Private civil lawsuits only
\nUsually state courts <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n\t All media <\/td> Copyright <\/td> Statutory law through Library of Congress Copyright Office, US Courts, WIPO, Bern Convention international treaty; DMCA takedown notices; private civil lawsuits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Advertising<\/td> Most products & services <\/td> Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Advertising <\/td> Medical products <\/td> Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulations <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Broadcasting <\/td> Advertising to children, obscenity, indecency <\/td> Federal Communications Commission (FCC) . <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \n\n
\n\t \nMedia Type<\/th> Structural issues <\/th> Resolved through <\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Print ownership<\/td> Anti-trust law <\/td> Justice Dept., US Congress <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Broadcast ownership<\/td> Anti-trust law, FCC regulations <\/td> Justice Dept, FCC, US Congress <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Broadcast, cable and satellite technology<\/td> Frequency allocation, technical standards, etc.<\/td> International Telecommunications Union, ISO (UN)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Internet and web<\/td> Domain names, antitrust law, tech standards<\/td> ICANN, ITU (UN)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Social media <\/td> Anti-trust law, privacy protections<\/td> US and EU regulators and courts are on divergent paths <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Artificial intelligence <\/td> Privacy, harm prevention <\/td> US and EU regulators and courts are on divergent paths <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"