MediaLawLetter May 2011
MLRC
Mobile Technology Headlines MLRC Digital Media Conference
Fourth Annual Legal Frontier’s in Digital Media Conference at Stanford University
MLRC London Conference September 19-20, 2011
International Developments in International Media Libel, Privacy, Newsgathering and
New Media IP Law
LIBEL & PRIVACY
9th Cir.: Divided Ninth Circuit En Banc Panel Allows Idea Submission Claim to Proceed
Implied Promise Not to Use Idea in Submitted Work Not Preempted by Copyright Act
Montz v. Pilgrim Films & Television, Inc.
Tex. Dist.: Texas Jury Finds Newspaper Libeled Sheriff’s Son
Court Ruled Article Was Not of Public Concern; Shifted Burden to Defense
Klentzman v. Brady
4th Cir.: Court Reinstates Libel, Privacy and Emotional Distress Claims Over TV News Broadcast
Libel by Omission; False Allegation of Sex Abuse Can Support Emotional Distress Claim
Tomblin v. WCHS-TV8 (Sinclair III)
N.Y. Sup.: Fair Report Privilege Protects Magazine Article Discussing Criminal Complaint
Magazine Didn’t Need to Use Word “Alleged” to Describe Charges
Klig v. Harper’s Magazine Foundation
Ala. App.: On Rehearing, Alabama Appeals Court Affirms Summary Judgment for Newspaper
Lack of Actual Malice Bars Public Officials Libel Suit
Little v. Consolidated Publishing Company and Megan Nichols
FIRST AMENDMENT
Hawaii: Welcome to Hawaii – The Aloha State
Legislature Considers Bill to Make Guidebook Publishers and Authors Liable for Injuries
H.B. 548; Senate Bill 1207
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK
N.Y.: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again
Long Arm Jurisdiction Exists Over Some Non-domiciliary Copyright Infringers
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. v. American Buddha
W.D. Mich.: Court Refuses to Enjoin Cooking Channel Show in Trademark Dispute
First Amendment Trumps the Lanham Act
Martha Elizabeth, Inc., et al. v. Scripps Networks Interactive, LLC, et al.
INTERNATIONAL
ECHR: Press Not Required to Give Pre-Publication Notice To Subjects of News Stories
Notification and Enforcement Would Create Chilling Effect
Mosley v. United Kingdom
UK: Other Side of Pond: Developments in UK and European Media Law
Super Injunctions, Libel and Privacy in the Age of Twitter, CFA’s
Netherlands: Artistic Freedom Prevails Over Intellectual Property Rights in Dutch Case
Artistic Allowed to Use Logos in Art Works
Nadia Plesner Joensen v. Louis Vuitton Malletier SA
French Court Dismisses Criminal Libel Case Against The Observer
Foreign Publisher and Reporter Not Properly Served
Yves Saint Laurent and Stefano Pilati v. The Observer et al.
REPORTERS’ PRIVILEGE
N.C. Crim.: Court Rejects Murder Defendant’s Subpoena for Outtakes
North Carolina Shield Statute Protects TV Documentary Show
North Carolina v. Fitzgerald
Md. Cir.: Court Quashes Subpoena to TV Journalist
Shield Law Protects Journalist in Consumer Protection Probe
ACCESS
DOJ: FOIA Exemption 2 After Milner v. Dept. of the Navy
A DOJ Roadmap
Cal. App.: Court Shines Light on Public Employee Pensions As Fiscal Tsunami Heads For Coast
Names, Pension Amounts and Employment History Matters of Public Record
Sacramento County Employees’ Retirement Association v. Superior Court (Sacramento Bee)
Fla. App.: Court Strikes Down Confidentiality Agreement Imposed on News Organizations in High Profile Murder Case
Selective Disclosure to Media Not Allowed
WPTV-TV v. State v. Casey Anthony
S.D. Fla.: Judge Denies Motion to Gag Trial Participants in Civil Rights Case Brought by SPLC
First Amendment Protects Political Speech Outside Courtroom
D.S.I. v. Slattery
Tex. App.: Court Affirms Order Unsealing Arbitration Award
Arbitration Award a Court Record
McAfee, Inc. v. Weiss