Publisher may be liable for contract killing based on book
Article Abstract:
The US 4th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Rice v. Paladin Enterprises that the First Amendment does not protect a book publisher from a wrongful death suit. Paladin Enterprises published a book titled "Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors." A family victimized by a multiple homicide claimed the murders had been inspired by the book. The appellate court ruled the book's contents were not the kind of "teachings" protected by the First Amendment and the book amounted to an incitement to commit crime.
Publication Name: News Media & the Law
Subject: Literature/writing
ISSN: 0149-0737
Year: 1998
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NLRB loses round in 'blind box' advertising subpoena fight: court finds 'chilling effect' on ability to publish ads would violate the Constitution
Article Abstract:
The US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the NLRB's attempt to subpoena a newspaper for the identity of an advertiser in NLRB v. Midland Daily News. The court stated that allowing such a subpoena would chill newspaper advertising if newspapers were forced to reveal advertisers. The court also found the ads were protected under the First Amendment as commercial speech.
Publication Name: News Media & the Law
Subject: Literature/writing
ISSN: 0149-0737
Year: 1998
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