COMMUNICATIONS LAW
    Professor Linder
    Fall Semester, 2000

    The casebook [CB] for the course is Mass Media Law (6th Edition) by Franklin, Anderson, and Cate.  Supplemental readings [SR] for course will be posted on the Communications Law website.

    I. The First Amendment and the Media

    Session 1:

      Introduction/Values Served by Speech  (CB, pp. 1-28)( pp. 17-26 may be skimmed)
       
    Session 2:
      Prior Restraints  (CB, pp. 28-57)(pp.50-57 may be skimmed)
            Cases: Near v Minnesota (US 1931), U.S. v The Progressive (WD Wis. 1979)

    Session 3:

      Methods of First Amendment Analysis: Balancing, Categorical Approach, Literal Approach, Clear and Present Danger Test (CB, pp. 57-83)
      Cases: Landmark Communications v Virginia (US 1978), Smith v Daily Mail (US 1979),
      R. A. V. v St. Paul (US 1992)
       
    Session 4:
      The Press Clause/Are Electronic Media Different? (CB, pp. 83-122)
      Cases: Miami Herald v Tornillo (US 1974), Red Lion Broadcasting v FCC (US 1969), Turner Broadcasting v FCC (US 1994)
       
    II. Content Neutral Regulation of the Media

    Session 5:

      Taxation/Labor Relations/Distribution/Preserving Multiple Voices (CB, pp. 123-172)
      Cases: Leathers v Medlock (US 1991), Nelson v McClatchy Newspapers (US 1997), Cincinnati v Discovery Network (US 1993), Turner v FCC (Turner I)(US 1994), Turner v FCC (Turner II)
      (US 1997)
       
    III. Content-Based Regulation of the Media
       
    Session 6:
      Speech about Judicial Proceedings (CB, pp. 173-203)
      Cases: Sheppard v Maxwell (US 1966), Nebraska Press Ass'n v Stuart (US 1976), Gentile v State Bar (US 1991)
       
    Session 7:
      Speech Concerning Elections (CB, 203-230)
      Cases: CBS v FCC (US 1981), Becker v FCC (DCCA 1996), Fulani v FCC (2 CA 1995)(SR)
       
    Session 8:
      Sexually Explicit Speech/ Violent Speech (CB, pp. 231-256)
      Cases: FCC v Pacifica Foundation (US 1978), Reno v ACLU (US 1997), U.S. v Playboy Entertainment Group (US 2000)(SR), Missouri H.B. 1406 (SR), Video Software Dealers v Webster (8 CA 1992)(SR)


    Session 9:

      Commercial Speech (CB, pp. 256-273)
      Cases: Central Hudson Gas & Electric v PSC (US 1980), 44 Liquormart v Rhode Island (US 1996), SEC v Wall Street Publishing (DCCA 1988)
       
    Session 10:
      Government-Owned Media (CB, pp. 273-292)
      Cases: Arkansas Educational Television Comm'n v Forbes (US 1998), KKK v Curators of Univ. of Missouri (8 CA 2000)(SR)


    IV. Defamation

    Session 11:

      What is Defamation?/  Special Damages / Identification of the Plaintiff/ Actual Malice
      (CB, pp. 294-339)
      Cases: Romaine v Kallinger (NJ SCt 1988), Matherson v Marchello (NY App. Div. 1984), New York Times v Sullivan (US 1964), Burnett v National Enquirer  (CA CtApp 1983)(SR)
       
    Session 12:
      Negligence/ Strict Liability/ The Public-Private Distinction (CB, pp. 339-369)
      Cases: Gertz v Robert Welch (US 1974), WFAA-TV v McLemore (Tex SCt 1998)
       
    Session 13:
      Falsity (CB, pp. 369 -383)
      Cases: Philadelphia Newspapers v Hepps (US 1986), Milkovich v Lorain Journal (US 1990), Miller-Mancow Libel Complaint (SR)
       
    Session 14:
      Publication/ Republication/ Neutral Reportage, Common Law Privileges and Other Defenses
      (CB, 383-398)
      Cases: Zeran v AOL (4 CA 1997), Khawan v Globe Int'l (CA SCt 1998)
       
    V. Protecting Privacy

    Session 15:

      Public Disclosure of Private Facts (CB, 422-451)
      Cases: Haynes v Alfred Knoopf, Inc. (7 CA 1993),  Florida Star v B. J. F. (US 1989), Howell v. Goerdt (7 CA 1997)(SR)
       
    Session 16:
      False Light Privacy (CB, 451-462)
      Cases: Cantrell v Forest City Publishing (US 1974), People's Bank & Trust v Globe (8 CA 1992)(SR)
       
    Session 17:
      Appropriation  (CB, 462-474)
      Cases: Zacchini v Scripps Howard (US 1977)(SR), Waits v Frito-Lay (9 CA 1992)(SR), White v Samsung Electronics (9 CA 1993)(SR)
       
    VI. Liability for Emotional, Economic, and Physical Harm

    Session 18:

      Emotional Distress (CB, pp. 477-488)
      Cases: Hustler Magazine v Falwell (US 1988), KOVR-TV v Superior Court (Cal App 1993)(SR)
       
    Session 19:
      Economic Harm (CB, pp. 488-500)
      Cases: Cohen v Cowles Media (US 1991), Gutter v Dow Jones (Ohio SCt 1999)
       
    Session 20:
      Physical Harm (CB, pp. 500-537)
      Cases: Herceg v Hustler Magazine (5 CA 1987), Rice v Paladin Enterprises (4 CA 1997), Braun v Soldier of Fortune Magazine (11 CA 1992)
       
    VII. Copyright and Trademark

    Session 21:

      Copyright Ownership (CB, pp. 539-543)
      Cases: Estate of Martin Luther King v CBS (11 CA 1999) (SR), Los Angeles News Service v Frank (9 CA 1992)(SR), Baltimore Orioles v Major League Baseball Players Ass'n (7 CA 1986)(SR), Hoehling v Universal City Studios (2 CA 1970)(SR)
       
    Session 22:
      Fair Use (CB, pp. 543-566)
      Cases: Harper & Row v Nation (US 1985), Elsmere Music v NBC (S Dis NY 1980)(SR), Dr. Seuss Enterprises v Penquin Books (9 CA 1997)(SR), "Birds Sing"/"ASCAP Changes Tune" (SR)
       
    Session 23:
      Trademark
      Cases: Planned Parenthood v Bucci (S Dis NY 1997)(SR), New Kids on the Block v. News America
      (9 CA 1997)(SR)
       
    VIII. Newsgathering Torts

    Session 24:

      Trespassing/ Intrusion (CB, 568-585)
      Cases: Dietemann v Time (9 CA 1971), Wilson v Layne (US 1999)
       
    Session 25:
      Eavesdropping, Wiretapping and Other Torts (CB, pp. 585-622)
      Cases: Deteresa v ABC (9 CA 1997), Sanders v ABC (Cal SCt 1999), Food Lion v Cap Cities/ABC (4 CA 1999), Clift v Narragansett Television (R.I. SCt 1996)
       
    IX. Subpoenas and Searches

    Session 26:

      Reporter's Privilege/ Shield Legislation/ Search Warrants (CB, pp. 623-667)
      Cases: Branzburg v Hayes (US 1972), U. S. v LaRouche Campaign (1 CA 1988), Riley v City of Chester (3 CA 1979), WDAF-TV v. McCaskill (8 CA 1996)(SR)
       
    X. Access to Information and Places

    Session 27:

      Freedom of Information Act/ State Open Records Acts/ Sunshine Acts (CB, pp. 668-691)
      Cases: U. S. Dep't of Justice v Reporter's Committee (US 1989), Post-Newsweek Stations v Doe (Fla SCT 1992)(SR), Hemeyer v KRCG-TV (Mo App WD 1999)(SR)
       
    Session 28:
      Access to Institutions/ Access to Crime and Accident Scenes/ Discriminatory Access (CB, pp. 691-726)
      Cases: Houchins v KQED (US 1978), City of Oak Creek v Ah King (Wis SCt 1989), Sherrill v Knight (DC CA 1977), Borecca v Fasi (Dis Ha 1974)(SR), Ludtke v Kuhn (S Dis NY 1978)(SR)
       
    Session 29:
      Access to Judicial Proceedings (CB, pp. 727-750)
      Cases: Richmond Newspapers v Virginia (US 1980), Press-Enterprise Co. v Superior Court (US 1986)
       
    Communications Law Website