Media and First Amendment

Overview

Every day, businesses and individuals in the media industry face unique and significant legal issues. Whether you are a television or radio station deciding whether to run a controversial news story, or a journalist subject to a government subpoena seeking notes obtained from a confidential source, your work requires solid legal advice on First Amendment speech and press rights and state laws on defamation and invasion of privacy.

Because your work presents so many challenges, you need attorneys who are not only familiar with the applicable laws but also familiar with your fast-paced industry. We have a strong record of successfully defending the media and protecting First Amendment rights – which extend beyond the media industry itself. Our media law expertise helps our business and individual clients looking to manage or defend their digital reputation or protect themselves from online trolls and gripe sites. We can take action on your behalf or work to proactively protect your reputation.

Services include assisting with, evaluating, responding or defending against:

Claims of defamation, libel, invasion of privacy, or copyright/trademark infringement
Pre-publication and pre-broadcast review
Fair reporting privilege
Requests for retraction or correction
Subpoenas, including confidential source issues
State and federal public record requests and access, including under the Federal Freedom of Information Act
Print, broadcast and Internet-related false advertising issues
Terms of use for websites and privacy policies
User-generated content and reader comments and reviews on websites, articles, editorials or gripe sites
Court gag and seal orders
Obtaining seats for journalists at high profile trials
Commercial disparagement
Libelous anonymous comments
Deceptive online statements
False advertising
Domain cybersquatting
Defamation on review websites