If you feel like commenting on the FCC's "egregious cases" indecency policy, the deadlines for comments have been set. Now all we need to know is what, exactly, is the FCC's "egregious cases policy" we're supposed to be commenting on . . .… Continue Reading
In a public notice that surely ranks among the most bizarre any of us are likely to see, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau and General Counsel have made three startling announcements about the Commission's broadcast indecency policy.… Continue Reading
The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in McBurney v. Young, a case involving a "citizens-only" limitation on state FOIA rights in Virginia. Our own Supreme Court Swami, Kevin Goldberg, reports.… Continue Reading
The Sunshine Act gives us all access to the meetings of certain executive branch agencies, much as the FOIA give us access to those agencies' written records. Maybe not for long, though, at least as far as the FCC is concerned.… Continue Reading
The Janet Jackson case is, for all intents and purposes, finished. But, as has been customary with just about everything surrounding L'Affaire Jackson, even the Supreme Court's final order included some unexpected flair.… Continue Reading
You've read his stuff, and you've probably wondered - who is this man of mystery they call the Swami? Now you can hear him and see him expounding (with customary eloquence) about the Supreme Court's latest decision on broadcast indecency.… Continue Reading
For some insight into what the Court's recent decision on indecency means going forward, we called on the Swami, Kevin Goldberg. Not surprisingly, he had some thoughts.… Continue Reading
The Supreme Court has sent the Fox and NYPD Blue cases back down to the Second Circuit. While that might sound like bad news for broadcasters, that's not necessarily the case. In fact, Fox and ABC can clearly view this decision as a significant victory.… Continue Reading
Meet NOITALS. It enables the Commission to see what's going on in each and every individual computer, nationwide, without tipping off the computer's user.… Continue Reading
On January 10, the Swami and the Blogmeister took a field trip to the Supreme Court to catch the Fox/ABC indecency argument. Here's their report.… Continue Reading
In a long-awaited if anticlimactic decision, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has again sided with CBS in its fight with the FCC over the 2004 Super Bowl® half-time show.… Continue Reading
We suggested the other day that, in view of the Justice Department's recent anti-marijuana campaign in California, the Feds might eventually target broadcasters who carry ads for dope dispensaries. Looks like our speculation wasn't too far off.… Continue Reading
Do the Supreme Court opinions in Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Association shed light on likely outcome of FCC v. Fox Television Stations indecency case next term? The Swami thinks so.… Continue Reading
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Fox and NYPD Blue cases next term -- and the constitutionality of the FCC's indecency regime will be the only issue on the docket.… Continue Reading
Judge Beryl Howell has issued four more opinions in "John Doe" copyright infringement cases involving thousands of defendants. Welcome to the District of Columbia, your go-to spot for BitTorrent litigation! Troll out the red carpet!… Continue Reading
Commercial program origination on FM translators? A new "auxiliary secondary service" classification? And what the heck is a satellator? A recent petition for rulemaking addresses these and other interesting questions.… Continue Reading
Like a hard-core poker player on a losing streak, the Commission isn't going to let a recent string of defeats discourage it. Au contraire, the FCC's going double-or-nothing: it has asked the Supreme Court to review the Second Circuit's 2010 indecency decisions in the Fox and NYPD Blue cases.… Continue Reading
The Swami strikes again - this time with a correct prediction of the outcome in Snyder v. Phelps. Here are some thoughts on the Supreme Court's decision in this tough First Amendment case.… Continue Reading
Score one for the copyright trolls. A recent U.S. District Court decision in D.C. will almost certainly make it easier for the trolls to pressure their defendants - including even purely blameless defendants - into pre-trial settlements favorable to the trolls.… Continue Reading
