Media Law is a branch of law regulating television, print, Internet, radio, and other forms of media. A lawyer specializing in this area of law is known as a media lawyer or digital media lawyer.
The advent of various media has transformed the field of law. Just a century ago, the press would have consisted of print and live actors. Now, multiple media, including radio, television, movies, video games, mobile devices, and the Internet, make us view media law in a new light.
Intellectual PropertySince the early days of the Internet, people have shared digital content through peer-to-peer technologies, Torrent, or other means of file hosting services. While illegal downloading of copyrighted materials has permeated the Internet, the widespread sharing of digital files was seen as an enormously beneficial means of spreading the word about new creative work.
First Amendment and CensorshipCensorship, or the suppression or prohibition of speech or other public communication, has been used throughout history. From Plato's criticism of poetry in The Republic to the vilification of so-called "subversive" political ideas in the 20th century, censorship has been a tool to discredit social movements and ideologies.
Once used by some governments and public organizations to suppress free and creative expression, censorship has more recently become a tactic used by the private creative industries to enforce a system that economically benefits them. It also has a dangerous element of suppressing the free speech of artists that were censored for means not necessarily about their artistry, such as political stances, religion, sexuality, and ethnicity.
DesperateIt is said that the pen is mightier than the sword. However, with the advent of modern technology, society has had to adapt to a new form of written defamation: the Internet.
While the Internet has provided many benefits, it has also enabled people to publish information more quickly and rapidly than ever before, which has led to defamation concerns.
Defamation is spreading lies about a person or organization that damage that person or the organization. For example, if a person's reputation has been damaged due to false accusations, that person's reputation has been defamed, and the person could be entitled to damages.
When defamation occurs on the Internet, it is slightly different from elsewhere. For example, the laws on defamation, slander, and libel are constantly evolving and emerging to fit the needs and challenges of this modern age. The damage caused by internet defamation can affect individuals and entire organizationsgreatly hindering their ability to conduct business, raise funds, and subsequently fulfill their mission.