Media & Communications Law

Kagan, Sotomayor write dueling opinions in SCOTUS fair-use ruling against Andy Warhol Foundation

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan complained in a dissent Thursday that a majority ruling by liberal colleague Justice Sonia Sotomayor had adopted a “posture of indifference” and left “in shambles” part of a fair-use test used in copyright cases.

May 18, 2023 11:32 AM CDT

Lawyers likely to see large payouts in $787.5M Fox defamation case

At least 31 lawyers from nine different law firms were involved in Dominion Voting Systems’ two-year defamation lawsuit against the Fox Corp., which ended this week with a $787.5 million settlement.

Apr 21, 2023 9:47 AM CDT

Alan Dershowitz can’t pursue defamation suit against CNN, despite its ‘foolishness’ and ‘apathy,’ judge says

Former Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz can’t pursue his lawsuit contending that CNN defamed him by mischaracterizing his remarks during the first impeachment trial of then-President Donald Trump, a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has ruled.

Apr 5, 2023 12:51 PM CDT

Suit by Fox News producer alleges BigLaw lawyers and others pressured her to give evasive testimony

Updated: A Fox News producer alleges in a lawsuit filed Monday that she worked in a “misogynistic environment” at the network and received worse legal representation than male employees as she prepared for deposition testimony in the defamation case filed by Dominion Voting Systems.

Mar 21, 2023 12:32 PM CDT

Lawyers kicked off Twitter sue for breach of contract, citing Musk’s amnesty tweet

Husband-and-wife lawyers Jared and Elizabeth Lee Beck have filed a breach of contract suit in a bid for reinstatement to Twitter that is based on an Elon Musk tweet. The lawyers sued through their company, Don’t Tread On Us, in a January lawsuit that was removed to federal court in…

Mar 20, 2023 11:11 AM CDT

Law prof isn’t sure whether Florida blogger bill applies to him, says second bill would help cop defamation suits

Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican-dominated state legislature are “willing to take their chances in court” with performative legislation that goes beyond the law as it currently stands, according to a professor at the Florida International University College of Law.

Mar 7, 2023 9:36 AM CST

SCOTUS appears reluctant to impose liability for websites’ third-party content

The U.S. Supreme Court appeared reluctant to impose liability on social media websites in oral arguments Tuesday and Wednesday in cases seeking to impose liability for third-party content that aids terrorism.

Feb 22, 2023 3:46 PM CST

Weekly Briefs: Judge orders reform of school-funding system; BigLaw malpractice suit settles

School-funding system violates state constitution, judge says A Pennsylvania judge has ruled that the state’s school-funding system, which is heavily dependent on local property taxes, violates the state constitutional rights of students in poor school districts. Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer said the system violates the Pennsylvania Constitution’s education clause and…

Feb 10, 2023 2:44 PM CST

After seeing attitude shifts about opiate addiction, MDL lawyer targets Facebook

In 2022, a multidistrict litigation lawyer brought a federal action against Meta Platforms Inc. alleging that the algorithms are designed to be addictive.

Jan 30, 2023 8:30 AM CST

Most of Twitter’s former legal staff is gone, as is Elon Musk’s personal lawyer Alex Spiro, reports say

Twitter’s legal staff of about 200 people is mostly gone following the social media company’s takeover nearly two months ago by Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk. He has also replaced two law firms and reportedly ousted the personal lawyer he installed as the interim legal chief.

Dec 16, 2022 11:37 AM CST