Week of April 25, 2008 [1]
Welcome to the Citizen Media Law Brief, a weekly newsletter highlighting recent blog posts, media law news, legal threat entries, and other new content on the Citizen Media Law Project's website. You are receiving this email because you have expressed interest in the CMLP or registered on our site, www.citmedialaw.org. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, you can unsubscribe by following the link at the bottom of this email or by going to http://www.citmedialaw.org/newsletter/subscriptions.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *The latest from the Citizen Media Law Project blog...
David Ardia discusses a recent subpoena to unmask anonymous posters.
Eclipse Aviation Uses Subpoena to Uncover Identities of Anonymous Critics [2]
Sam Bayard writes about the intersection between trademark law and free speech.
How Trademark Law Casts A Dark Cloud Over Free Speech [3]
David Ardia reports on a blogger's well-deserved victory.
Judge Quashes Subpoena to Blogger Kathleen Seidel, Orders Lawyer to Explain Justification for Subpoena [4]
Tuna Chatterjee comments on Maine's new state shield law.
Maine Enacts State Shield Law [5]
Sam Bayard looks at the Society for Professional Journalists' citizen media workshops.
Check Out The SPJ Citizen Journalism Academy [6]
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Recent threats added to the CMLP database...
Posted April 25th, 2008
Northland Insurance Companies v. Blaylock [8]
Posted April 25th, 2008
Creation Science Evangelism v. Rational Response Squad [9]
Posted April 24th, 2008
Matrixx Initiatives v. Barbary Coast Capital [10]
Posted April 24th, 2008
Patterson v. Cole [11]
Posted April 24th, 2008
Nemet v. ConsumerAffairs.com [12]
Posted April 24th, 2008
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Other citizen media law news...
CNN now sued for $1.3 billion - $1 per person in China
Reuters [13] - Thurs. 4/24/08
Rules for journalists/bloggers/witnesses? A Guardian debate
BuzzMachine [14] - Thurs. 4/24/08
New Jersey Constitution Requires Subpoena for ISP Data
Info/Law [15] - Wed. 4/23/08
Court Dismisses Defamation Lawsuit Brought By Researcher Against Physician Who Criticized Intercessory Prayer Study
Media Law Prof Blog [16] - Wed. 4/23/08
Tension Over Sports Blogging
New York Times [17] - Mon. 4/21/08
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The full(er) Brief...
David Ardia, Eclipse Aviation Uses Subpoena to Uncover Identities of Anonymous Critics [2]
"Bill McGeveran, a University of Minnesota law professor and friend of the CMLP, has published his article, 'Four Free Speech Goals for Trademark Law' in the Media & Entertainment Law Journal, volume 18 (available at SSRN). The article makes a compelling case that, while courts in trademark cases ultimately tend to reach results that protect free speech against trademark overreaching, they do so in a muddled way that makes it hard to resolve cases quickly and cheaply and leaves speakers vulnerable to bullying through cease-and-desist letters. . . ."
Sam Bayard, How Trademark Law Casts A Dark Cloud Over Free Speech [3]
"A federal magistrate judge in New Hampshire has quashed the subpoena issued to Kathleen Seidel. Seidel publishes the blog Neurodiversity, where she writes about autism issues. In February 2008, she wrote about a lawsuit against various vaccine manufacturers, Sykes v. Bayer, in which the plaintiffs Lisa and Seth Sykes seek to link exposure to mercury to their son's autism. . . ."
David Ardia, Judge Quashes Subpoena to Blogger Kathleen Seidel, Orders Lawyer to Explain Justification for Subpoena [4]
"Last Friday, Maine enacted a state shield law to protect journalists from disclosing the identity of a confidential source or source material that the journalist obtained or received during the newsgathering process. . . . However, the law does not give journalists an absolute privilege against disclosing this type of information. . . ."
Tuna Chatterjee, Maine Enacts State Shield Law [5]
"The Society for Professional Journalists is hosting a series of one-day 'Citizen Journalism Academy' workshops in Chicago (May 17), Greensboro, North Carolina (June 7), and Los Angeles (June 28). The idea is to provide training and information for citizen media creators on topics ranging from media ethics, to standard journalistic practices, to law. . . . Two sessions look especially useful from our point of view: one on the basics of media law and another on access to public meetings and records. These day-long workshops cost $25. (I applaud the SPJ for not pricing its intended audience out of the market.) . . ."
Sam Bayard, Check Out The SPJ Citizen Journalism Academy [6]
