Digital Media Law
A Practical Guide for the
Media and Entertainment Industries
Companion Website
Welcome to the companion website to Digital Media Law: A Practical Guide for the Media and Entertainment Industries by Christopher S. Reed, published by Routledge in 2022. Here you will find a variety of ancillary resources and supporting materials to help get the most out of the book.
Cases and Materials
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VISUAL AIDS
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Instructor Resources
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CHAPTER 1
DEFINING DIGITAL MEDIA
Before we jump into the law of digital media, it is helpful to define what “digital media” means and in what ways it is similar to, and distinct from “traditional media.” This chapter considers how advances in technology have led to changes to the way content is created, distributed, and consumed, and examines in what ways the law of traditional media is the same for digital media and where digital distribution has given rise to new legal doctrines.
CHAPTER 2
LAW & THE U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM
What is the basic structure of the legal system in the United States? How do the three branches of government fit together and what role do the courts play in evaluating the constitutionality of laws and government actions? How do we find statutes, case law, and other resources necessary to understand the metes and bounds of the law? This chapter defines the broad contours of the legal environment in which digital media professionals work.
CHAPTER 3
THE FIRST AMENDMENT
The previous chapter established the broad contours of the law. In this chapter, this chapter orients the rest of the book within that broad universe by examining the spectrum of protection that First Amendment law has developed over the years and how it affects the media industry. Among other things, this chapter will examine distinctions between highly protected speech, such as political statements, and unprotected speech, such as obscenity.
CHAPTER 4
DEFAMATION
Reporting on and obtaining information from the government can raise unique concerns. On the one hand, the government, as an instrumentality of the people, funded by and working for the citizens, must be open and transparent, and it is the media’s role to keep a watchful eye on the government and keep the public informed. On the other hand, the government must be afforded a degree of discretion in conducting its affairs. For instance, there are strong public policy reasons why law enforcement files should not be made publicly available until an investigation concludes.
CHAPTER 5
PRIVACY & PUBLICITY
In what ways are advertisements different than other types of content that a media enterprise might produce and distribute? Which regulatory agencies oversee advertising issues and what laws and regulations must media enterprises be mindful of when determining which ads to accept (and vetting the content of those ads)?
CHAPTER 6
NEWSGATHERING
In what ways are advertisements different than other types of content that a media enterprise might produce and distribute? Which regulatory agencies oversee advertising issues and what laws and regulations must media enterprises be mindful of when determining which ads to accept (and vetting the content of those ads)?
CHAPTER 7
REPORTING ON THE GOVERNMENT
Reporting on and obtaining information from the government can raise unique concerns. On the one hand, the government, as an instrumentality of the people, funded by and working for the citizens, must be open and transparent, and it is the media’s role to keep a watchful eye on the government and keep the public informed. On the other hand, the government must be afforded a degree of discretion in conducting its affairs. For instance, there are strong public policy reasons why law enforcement files should not be made publicly available until an investigation concludes.
CHAPTER 8
COMMERCIAL SPEECH
& ADVERTISING
In what ways are advertisements different than other types of content that a media enterprise might produce and distribute? Which regulatory agencies oversee advertising issues and what laws and regulations must media enterprises be mindful of when determining which ads to accept (and vetting the content of those ads)?
CHAPTER 9
RADIO & TELEVISION
In what ways are advertisements different than other types of content that a media enterprise might produce and distribute? Which regulatory agencies oversee advertising issues and what laws and regulations must media enterprises be mindful of when determining which ads to accept (and vetting the content of those ads)?
CHAPTER 10
THE INTERNET
Reporting on and obtaining information from the government can raise unique concerns. On the one hand, the government, as an instrumentality of the people, funded by and working for the citizens, must be open and transparent, and it is the media’s role to keep a watchful eye on the government and keep the public informed. On the other hand, the government must be afforded a degree of discretion in conducting its affairs. For instance, there are strong public policy reasons why law enforcement files should not be made publicly available until an investigation concludes.
CHAPTER 11
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
In what ways are advertisements different than other types of content that a media enterprise might produce and distribute? Which regulatory agencies oversee advertising issues and what laws and regulations must media enterprises be mindful of when determining which ads to accept (and vetting the content of those ads)?
CHAPTER 12
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
In what ways are advertisements different than other types of content that a media enterprise might produce and distribute? Which regulatory agencies oversee advertising issues and what laws and regulations must media enterprises be mindful of when determining which ads to accept (and vetting the content of those ads)?
