- "Entertainment law, also referred to as media law, is legal services provided to the entertainment industry."
An examination of the legal and regulatory frameworks that govern mass communication, including topics such as freedom of speech, copyright law, and media regulation.
First Amendment: The First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech and the press. It is the foundation of all media law in the US.
Defamation: Defamation is a legal claim made by someone who believes they have been harmed by a false statement of fact. The two types of defamation are libel (written) and slander (spoken).
Intellectual Property: Intellectual property (IP) law pertains to the legal rights that protect creative works and inventions such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, etc.
Privacy: Protecting an individual's privacy may involve issues such as publication of private information, surveillance, intrusion, and other personal-injury cases.
Obscenity: The regulation of material that is considered obscene is a contested issue in media law.
Advertising: Advertising law governs the messages, techniques, and disclosures used in advertising.
Copyright: Copyright law protects the exclusive right of creators to control their original works of authorship such as books, music, movies, and software.
Trademarks: A trademark is a symbol, word, or words legally registered or established by use as representing a company or product.
FCC Regulations of Broadcast Media: Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulates broadcasting content, as well as ownership, licensing, and advertising practices.
News Gathering and Reporting: The legal rights and limitations to gathering and reporting the news is a significant topic of media law.
Fair Use: Fair use permits limited use of copyrighted material without the owner's permission for use in areas such as education or news reporting.
Journalism Ethics: Journalism ethics are a set of principles that guide journalists in their work, and they are not always legally binding.
Infringement: Infringement refers to the use of someone's copyrighted material without their permission.
Media Ownership: An essential concern in media law is the issue of media ownership, specifically around media concentration.
International Media Law: International media law is important for the regulation of transnational or global information dissemination and communication.
Net Neutrality: Net neutrality is the idea that all data on the internet should be treated equally by internet service providers, without discrimination or preference given to particular sites or services.
Hate Speech: Hate speech is a protected form of expression under the First Amendment. However, speech can become illegal if it crosses the line into incitement to violence or other illegal conduct.
Media Bias: Media bias refers to the subjective representation of an issue in the media, and it affects public perceptions and opinions.
Disaster Coverage: There are legal limitations on what the media can cover and report on during disasters, such as respecting privacy and avoiding sensationalizing the crisis.
Cybercrime: Digital media and communication have led to a rise in cybercrime, and laws are needed to regulate criminal activities such as hacking, fraud, and identity theft.
Freedom of Expression: This type of media law governs how individuals and organizations can express themselves through different forms of media, including print, radio, TV, and the internet. It also protects the right to access information and the freedom to receive and impart ideas and opinions.
Defamation: This type of media law concerns the publication of false statements that harm someone's reputation. It includes slander (spoken defamation) and libel (written or broadcast defamation), and addresses issues of truth, reputational harm, and defenses such as privilege or fair comment.
Intellectual Property: This type of media law deals with the ownership and use of creative works, such as music, film, literature, and art. It includes copyright law, which protects authors' original works, as well as trademark and patent laws, which protect and regulate the use of logos, brand names, and inventions.
Privacy: This type of media law governs individuals' right to protect their personal information and prevent its unauthorized disclosure. It includes laws around data protection, access to information, and the use of surveillance and tracking technologies.
Advertising and Marketing: This type of media law regulates the methods and practices used to promote products and services through different forms of media. It includes laws regarding false or misleading advertising, endorsements, and product placements, as well as regulations on the use of personal data for targeted advertising.
Telecommunications: This type of media law addresses the ownership, regulation, and use of communication technologies, including telecommunications networks and internet service providers. It includes regulations around access, affordability, net neutrality, and spectrum allocation.
Press Regulation: This type of media law concerns the regulation and oversight of the media industry, including print, broadcast, and online media. It includes laws around registration, licensing, and accreditation, as well as ethical codes of conduct and standards of professionalism.
Access to Information: This type of media law concerns the right to access government-held information and public records. It includes freedom of information laws, which require government agencies to provide access to information on request, subject to certain exemptions and exceptions.
Content Regulation: This type of media law concerns the regulation of content in different forms of media, including print, broadcast, and online media. It includes laws around obscenity, hate speech, incitement to violence or discrimination, and other forms of harmful content.
Media Ownership: This type of media law concerns the ownership and control of media outlets, including print, broadcast, and online media. It includes regulations around cross-ownership, concentration, and diversity, as well as antitrust and competition law.
- "These services in entertainment law overlap with intellectual property law."
- "Intellectual property has many moving parts that include trademarks, copyright, and the 'right of publicity'."
- "The practice of entertainment law often involves questions of employment law, contract law, torts, labor law, bankruptcy law, immigration, securities law, security interests, agency, right of privacy, defamation, advertising, criminal law, tax law, International law (especially private international law), and insurance law."
- "Much of the work of an entertainment law practice is transaction based, i.e., drafting contracts, negotiation and mediation."
- "Some situations may lead to litigation or arbitration."
- "These services in entertainment law overlap with intellectual property law."
- "Intellectual property has many moving parts that include trademarks, copyright, and the 'right of publicity'."
- "The practice of entertainment law often involves questions of employment law, contract law, torts, labor law, bankruptcy law, immigration, securities law, security interests, agency, right of privacy, defamation, advertising, criminal law, tax law, International law (especially private international law), and insurance law."
- "Much of the work of an entertainment law practice is transaction based, i.e., drafting contracts, negotiation and mediation."
- "Some situations may lead to litigation or arbitration."
- "Entertainment law, also referred to as media law, is legal services provided to the entertainment industry."
- "Intellectual property has many moving parts that include trademarks, copyright, and the 'right of publicity'."
- "The practice of entertainment law often involves questions of employment law, contract law, torts, labor law, bankruptcy law, immigration, securities law, security interests, agency, right of privacy, defamation, advertising, criminal law, tax law, International law (especially private international law), and insurance law."
- "Much of the work of an entertainment law practice is transaction based, i.e., drafting contracts, negotiation and mediation."
- "Some situations may lead to litigation or arbitration."
- "Entertainment law, also referred to as media law, is legal services provided to the entertainment industry."
- "Intellectual property has many moving parts that include trademarks, copyright, and the 'right of publicity'."
- "The practice of entertainment law often involves questions of employment law, contract law, torts, labor law, bankruptcy law, immigration, securities law, security interests, agency, right of privacy, defamation, advertising, criminal law, tax law, International law (especially private international law), and insurance law."
- "Much of the work of an entertainment law practice is transaction based, i.e., drafting contracts, negotiation and mediation."