Week of May 2, 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...
CMLP Staff introduce the Intellectual Property section of the Legal Guide.
CMLP Launches New Legal Guide Section on Intellectual Property [2]
Matt Sanchez reports on the new reporters' shield bill in Hawaii.
Hawaii Legislature Passes Shield Bill [3]
David Ardia reflects on the necessity of New York's Libel Terrorism Protection Act.
English Libel Law's Pernicious Impact on First Amendment Speech [4]
CMLP Staff discuss the media-rich resources found in court proceedings and court records.
Highlights from the Legal Guide: Access to Courts and Court Records [5]
Sam Bayard notes the Saudi government's release of blogger Al-Farhan.
Saudi Blogger Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan Released [6]
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Recent threats added to the CMLP database...
Posted May 2nd, 2008
2clix v. Wright [8]
Posted May 2nd, 2008
Burch v. ocrenter [9]
Posted May 2nd, 2008
Bauer v. Wikimedia [10]
Posted May 2nd, 2008
U.S. Treasury Department v. Marshall [11]
Posted April 29th, 2008
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Other citizen media law news...
Newspaper execs sue Ariz. county attorney, sheriff
First Amendment Center [12] - Fri. 5/2/08
User-Generated Censorship
AlterNet [13] - Wed. 4/30/08
Ripoff Report Folks Sue Newspaper and Reporter for Defamation
Technology & Marketing Law Blog [14] - Wed. 4/30/08
Dancing tot's mom faces setback in YouTube-Prince case
CNET News [15] - Mon. 4/28/08
The Copyright Myths
Michael Geist [16] - Sun. 4/27/08
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The full(er) Brief...
"Back in January, we began rolling out the Citizen Media Law Project's Legal Guide. So far, we've published major sections of the guide covering Forming a Business and Getting Online, Dealing with Online Legal Risks, Newsgathering and Privacy, and Access to Government Information. This week we are excited to announce that we've published the section on Intellectual Property, which explains various intellectual property concepts, including copyright, trademark, and trade secrets, and provides practical advice about how to use the intellectual property of others and protect your own work from exploitation. . . ."
CMLP Staff,
CMLP Launches New Legal Guide Section on Intellectual Property [2]
"The Hawaii legislature passed a reporters' shield bill Tuesday that will protect both traditional and non-traditional journalists from compelled disclosure of their confidential sources and information and materials obtained or prepared during the newsgathering process. In one sense, this shield bill is a positive step forward, as it expressly contemplates that online publishers carrying out journalistic functions will take advantage of its protections. On the other hand, the bill places too many limitations on the ability of non-traditional journalists to invoke its protection. . . ."
Matt Sanchez, Hawaii Legislature Passes Shield Bill [3]
"Floyd Abrams published an op-ed today in the Wall Street Journal that highlights the impact of foreign law, especially English libel law, on speech in the United States. . . . As an example of the pernicious effect of English libel law, Abrams mentions the case of Rachel Ehrenfeld, who was sued for libel in the United Kingdom by Saudi banker Khalid Bin Mahfouz over her book, "Funding Evil: How Terrorism is Funded and How to Stop It," which she published in New York. According to evidence in the case, a mere twenty-three copies of the book were sold in England, but that was sufficient for a U.K. court to exercise jurisdiction over Ehrenfeld. As a result of Ehrenfeld's refusal to appear or accept the court's jurisdiction, the judge entered judgment against her in the amount of $225,000. . . . [Abrams] notes that the New York Assembly and Senate have unanimously passed a bill, aptly named the 'Libel Terrorism Protection Act,' that would give Ehrenfeld and others who are sued for libel abroad the right to obtain a declaration that their speech is protected under American law. . . ."
David Ardia, English Libel Law's Pernicious Impact on First Amendment Speech [4]
"This is the eighth in a series of posts calling attention to topics we cover in the Citizen Media Legal Guide. In this post, we highlight the section on Access to Courts and Court Records, which provides an overview of federal and state laws that grant you the right to access federal and state court records and court proceedings. We also provide some practical tips for getting useful information out of your local courthouse. . . ."
CMLP Staff, Highlights from the Legal Guide: Access to Courts and Court Records [5]
"After four months, the Saudi Arabian government has
released popular Saudi blogger Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan without charge.
Authorities arrested Fouad in December after warning him about posts
supporting an activist group on his blog at فؤاد أحمد الفرحان.
From the time of his arrest, Interior Ministry officials were evasive
about the reason for his detention, explaining only that it was not
related to state security. Bloggers, journalists, and human rights
groups around the world rallied around Fouad, denouncing his detention
and calling for his release. Spearheading the effort, the Free Fouad
site provided updates, collected press coverage, and offered 'Free
Fouad' badges for placement on supporters' blogs and websites. In February, protesters demonstrated against the arrest in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington, according to the Washington Post.
It's great to hear that Fouad's been released, but chilling to consider
the vulnerability of journalists and dissidents under the Saudi regime. . . ."
Sam Bayard, Saudi Blogger Fouad Ahmad Al-Farhan Released [6]
