This Communications Law Institute course considers the general issue of the extent to which the First Amendment Press Clause affords protection of the communications industry in the gathering and dissemination of news and information. Specific subject matter to be covered includes competing theories of First Amendment Press Clause, libel, invasion of privacy, the censorship and punishment of obscenity and indecency, restrictions on the reporting of matters affecting national security and foreign relations, reporter access to persons and places, constitutional privileges for news persons not to divulge confidential sources and information, free press-fair trial issues, judicial secrecy, the “fair use” defense to copyright infringement actions and a multitude of issues spawned by modern telecommunications and the Internet. This course requires a qualifying course paper that fulfills one half of the upper-level writing requirement. Refer to Academic Rule X — Writing Requirement and Directed Research.The grade for this course is based primarily on the student research paper. Enrollment is limited to 25 students. 

Upper-level course for:
V. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
VIII. Communication Law and New Technologies
X. Constitution Law
XI. Entertainment, Art and Sports Law
XVIII. Intellectual Property Law
XXII. Law and Public Policy