An indispensable survival guide for anyone in the media industry and the lawyers who serve them Especially now, in an age of instant global access through digital media, it is vitally important that journalists, authors and publishers, as well as the lawyers who serve them, be fully up on the laws governing media, worldwide. The ultimate resource for all the media content providers and purveyors, this fully updated and expanded Third Edition of the critically-acclaimed handbook offers you instant access to relevant libel and privacy laws and important legal rulings in the Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas. It clearly and concisely explains risks publishers should know about prior to publication, steps they can take in order to avoid legal conflicts, and legal defences available to them in the event of a claim. Offers nation-by-nation summaries of libel and privacy law written by local practitioners in an easy-to-use reference format Expanded to include coverage of important emerging territories--Mexico, Israel, and Argentina, et al--as well as the latest libel and privacy rulings Features new chapters on emerging media markets--including Israel, Mexico, Argentina, Jordan, and others--as well as valuable updates to the Middle East section Provides updates on all major media markets and nations, along with coverage of changes in libel laws in key jurisdictions, including Australia, the UK, Hungary and Germany

"A thoughtful, comprehensive, and invaluable guide for writers."--Bernard Lefkowitz, Professor, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism "Easy to read and understand . . . should be on every publisher's reference shelf."--Jan Nathan, Executive Director, Publishers Marketing Association For anyone who has ever faced the confusing web of copyright and libel laws, this practical, problem-solving guide is a godsend. In clear, jargon-free language, legal experts provide the information and techniques you need to prepare a manuscript or multimedia work for publication. You'll learn how to: * Clear rights for all types of copyrighted materials, including quotations, photographs, fine art, motion picture stills, song lyrics, and more * Protect yourself against libel suits * Determine if a work is in the public domain * Assess if quoting without permission qualifies as fair use * Locate rights holders * Negotiate clearances Includes library of sample forms: * permission letter * interview release * model release * work-made-for-hire agreement * copyright assignment * photograph license

Freedom of speech is fundamental to the founding of a democratic country which is distinctly expressed in Article 10 (1) (a) of the Federal Constitution. However, there are restrictions to the rights and freedom as provided for in Article 10 (2) (a) of the Federal Constitution, which exempted or excluded the defamation actions from the said right by passing the Defamation Act 1957 in controlling and ensuring the said rights and freedom of speech are exercised in accordance with the tenets of the law. The researcher intends to concentrate only on one element of defamation under the Defamation Act 1957 and Penal Code (Act 574), i.e., libel. Therefore, this book will focus on the extent of the rights and freedom of speech, and how the libel element plays a significant role in determining the restrictions of freedom of speech. The objectives of conducting this research are to examine the scope, concept, and development of libel, explore the possible harmonisation, and establish recommendations that could be used to enhance the libel law. This book will also focus on bilateral or two-way basis research, i.e., from Malaysian law and Islamic legal perspectives in relation to freedom of speech respectively. Comparative legal research and qualitative methods will be applied in this thesis based on the legal materials, i.e., law reports, legal commentaries, judicial decisions, Quranic verses, As-Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and opinions derived from Muslim scholars. The general observation is that there are similarities and differences in libel laws according to Malaysian law and Islamic legal principles which can be blended and forming effective Malaysian libel law for the purpose of strengthening the countermeasure against more complicated libel actions and at the same time to balance and integrate the relationship between libel law and freedom of speech, and this may be implemented through the harmonisation processes.

Landmark Cases in Defamation Law is a diverse and engaging edited collection that brings together eminent scholars from the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand to analyse cases of enduring significance to defamation law. The cases selected have all had a significant impact on defamation law, not only in the jurisdiction in which they were decided but internationally. Given the formative influence of English defamation law in the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, the focus is predominantly on English cases, although decisions of the United States and Australia are also included in the collection. The authors all naturally share a common interest in defamation law but bring different expertise and emphasis to their respective chapters. Among the authors are specialists in tort law, legal history and internet law. The cases selected cover all aspects of defamation law, including defamatory capacity and meaning; practice and procedure; defences; and remedies.

This new title covers the law surrounding freedom of press versus rights of the individual, including in depth analysis of the review of UK libel law and the draft Defamation Bill published in March 2011. Contents includes: History and development of libel laws in the UK and USA; Actions brought by US personalities in the UK Courts; The ramifications of the Rachel Ehrenfeld case; Importance of striking a balance between an unfettered press reporting in the public interest and one-sided coverage of particular issues; The argument for statutory press regulation; Level of damages awarded in comparison to costs involved; Super-injunctions; Anticipated changes to the law; Alternative remedies; Difficulties facing Claimants without access to legal aid; Implications arising from the phone hacking scandal.