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May 2020

MediaLawLetter March 2020

PUBLICATION:

in this issue

Second Circuit to King of Bullshit News: “No Redo on Review: You Lose, Fake News.”

Katherine Bolger, Rachel Strom and John Browning

Heavy is the head that wears the crown - and the head of Central European News boss Michael Leidig must weigh a little heavier after the Second Circuit twice declined to revive his defamation lawsuit against BuzzFeed for publishing an article anointing him "King of Bullshit News."

Massachusetts High Court Averts “Fair Report” Disaster

Jeffrey J. Pyle

In 2018, the intermediate Appeals Court in Massachusetts held that a student newspaper editor could be held liable for accurately reporting information in a state university's police blotter.

Minnesota Supreme Court Expands Scope of Fair Report Privilege But Leaves Water Muddy On When Privilege Is Defeated

Leita Walker

In a long-awaited decision—oral arguments were heard in early January 2019—the Minnesota Supreme Court issued an opinion holding that the state’s fair report privilege extends to official press conferences and press releases. It nevertheless remanded the case for a new trial on 5 of the 11 challenged statements, concluding that jury instructions had not adequately…

March Gladness! Two March 2020 Court Decisions Recalibrate Music Copyright Law

Kenneth D. Freundlich

March 2020 will be remembered at least in part (coronavirus notwithstanding) as the month when the pendulum swung back to reality in the music copyright sphere. In the well-publicized Blurred Lines decision, Williams v. Gaye, 895 F. 3d 1106 (9th Cir. 2018), brought by Marvin Gaye’s heirs for infringement of Gaye’s “Got To Give It…

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From the Executive Director’s Desk: Balancing Unity, Truth and the First Amendment in a Pandemic

By George Freeman These are chaotic and volatile times. Beyond the obvious scary health jeopardies, there are many frightening unknowns as well. No one knows how long this will last or how a rebound will play out. Clearly, concerns about our health and wellness, and those of our families, friends, colleagues and communities ought to…

MediaLawLetter March 2020

 Download PDF MLRC From the Executive Director’s Desk: Balancing Unity, Truth and the First Amendment in a PandemicGeorge Freeman 10 Questions to a Media Lawyer (Working From Home)Jay Ward Brown INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY March Gladness! Two March 2020 Court Decisions Recalibrate Music Copyright LawKenneth Freundlich LIBEL & PRIVACY Minnesota Supreme Court Expands Scope of Fair Report…