Digital Commons Network^™

Two Tests Unite To Resolve The Tension Between The First Amendment And The Right Of Publicity, Dora Georgescu

Fordham Law Review

The right of publicity is an established legal doctrine that grants individuals the exclusive right to control the commercial use of their image. Though it has many important and laudable uses, one unfortunate consequence of the right of publicity is that it restricts artists’ abilities to portray real persons in their works. In so doing, the right of publicity directly conflicts with the First Amendment protections of an individual’s freedom of expression.

While the U.S. Supreme Court addressed this tension in Zacchini v. Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Co., the Court did not create a clear standard for balancing the interests of …

Expressive Merchandise And The First Amendment In Public Fora, Genevieve Blake

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Courts have struggled to strike a balance between the interests of individuals and cities with the application of intermediate scrutiny to content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions, and several variations have emerged. This Comment will examine the breadth of those approaches as they affect the determination of what expression triggers First Amendment protection. Ultimately, the Note will argue for a re-thinking of how courts evaluate the scope of First AMendment protection and municipal regulation of expressive activity.

Accomodation Of Reputational Interests And Free Press: A Call For A Strict Interpretation Of Gertz, Tom Wall

Fordham Urban Law Journal

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan provides that states may award damages in defamation actions brought by public officials against media critics of their official conduct only if the plaintiff proves that the defendant acted with "actual malice." Subsequently, the Supreme Court extended this rule to public figures and promulgated standards for identifying public figures. The Court declared unconstitutional the common law standard of strict liability in actions brought by private individuals. Establishing negligence as a constitutional minimum, the Court delegated to the states the responsibility for formulating the proper standard of fault in actions brought by private individuals. This …