Derived from the renowned multi-volume International Encyclopaedia of Laws, this analysis of media law in Lithuania surveys the massively altered and enlarged legal landscape traditionally encompassed in laws pertaining to freedom of expression and regulation of communications. Everywhere, a shift from mass media to mass self-communication has put enormous pressure on traditional law models. An introduction describing the main actors and salient aspects of media markets is followed by in-depth analyses of print media, radio and television broadcasting, the Internet, commercial communications, political advertising, concentration in media markets, and media regulation. Among the topics that arise for discussion are privacy, cultural policy, protection of minors, competition policy, access to digital gateways, protection of journalists’ sources, standardization and interoperability, and liability of intermediaries. Relevant case law is considered throughout, as are various ethical codes. A clear, comprehensive overview of media legislation, case law, and doctrine, presented from the practitioner’s point of view, this book is a valuable time-saving resource for all concerned with media and communication freedom. Lawyers representing parties with interests in Lithuania will welcome this very useful guide, and academics and researchers will appreciate its value in the study of comparative media law.

This volume provides an overview of selected major areas of legal and institutional development in Lithuania since the Restoration of Independence in 1990. The respective chapters discuss changes in fields varying from the constitutional framework to criminal law and procedure. The content highlights four major aspects of the fundamental changes that have affected the entire legal system: the Post-Soviet country’s complex historical heritage; socio-political and other conditions in the process of adopting new (rule of law) standards; international legal influences on the national legal order over the past 30 years; and finally, the search for entirely new national legal models. Over a period of 30 years since gaining its independence from the Soviet Union, Lithuania has undergone unique social changes. The state restarted its independent journey burdened by the complicated heritage of the Soviet legal system. Some major reforms have taken place swiftly, while others have required years of thorough analysis of societal needs and the search for optimal examples in other states. The legal system is now substantially different, with some elements being entirely new, and others adapted to present needs.

The Nordic countries are well known globally for their high human rights standards and, at the same time, high degree of internet freedom. This edited collection reveals how the Nordic countries have succeeded in the task of protecting freedom of expression in the new media. It contains an overview of public policy choices and best practices of domestic online companies, which have the aspiration of finding global acceptance. Reviewing the topic of freedom of expression in new media within Nordic and Baltic countries, this book incorporates both general themes and interesting country-specific themes that will provide wider knowledge on the development of freedom of expression and media law in the online media era. A comprehensive analysis of regulation of online media, both at the level of legislation and application of law in courts and other authorities, are included. This book will contribute to the ongoing discussion as to whether there is a need to modify prevailing interpretation of freedom of expression. Human Rights Law and Regulating Freedom of Expression in New Media focuses on the multi-layered and complicated relationship between internet and human rights law. It contributes to the ongoing discussion regarding the protection of freedom of expression on the internet in the context of various doctrines of constitutional law, including the proliferation of constitutional adjudication. It will be of interest to researchers, academics, policymakers, and students in the fields of human rights law, internet law, political science, sociology, cultural studies, media and communications studies and technology.

Political and social changes that took place at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries and, additionally, technological revolution and the process of digitalisation have resulted in significant social, economic and legal transformations. Then, it can be even said metaphorically that together with the development of the Internet we discovered a new continent. 'Colonization' of this area resembles conquering new areas in times of great geographical discoveries. At first, power and violence were prevailing and only later people tried to introduce effective methods of law enforcement. Nowadays, the next problem is the non-territoriality of phenomena on the Internet. From the point of view of legal actions, it is generally limited to a legal system of a given country, and seems to be a fundamental issue. As it appears, law and legal systems do not handle the challenges of global space and it is rather a gunslinger's speed that turns out to be essential here. However, it should be hoped that with time, as in the case of the real world experience, power will be replaced with powerful arguments based on effective legal mechanisms in particular. All the more so, as these changes happen very rapidly. Thus, referring to the known concept of liquid modernity by Zygmunt Bauman, it can also be said that by regulating the media subject in the field of law to fundamental changes, we are confronted with the uncertainty of legal institutions concerning this part of social life. Hence, we should return to the basics and again pose fundamental questions about media law such as, for instance, what should the press, radio, television be called, and who can be treated as a journalist. Additionally, we should face new legal phenomena and challenges. The collective work we are passing to the readers is an attempt to analyse the current state and present a forecast about further changes as well as answers to at least several questions posed above. Being aware of the fact that it is impossible to deal with or even settle all the aforementioned problems in such a study, the editors hope that, thanks to reviews and deliberations of the authors, the book will significantly contribute to the discussion on media law in the 21st century. The authors of individual chapters of this book are researchers from various Polish scientific institutions and members of the Polish PressLawAssociation.

Supplies an in-depth commentary on EU media law, with detailed analysis of all important legislation and court decisions. It leads European lawyers with vast knowledge and practical experience of media law provide detailed expert commentary.

This cutting-edge Research Handbook presents a comprehensive overview of the European Union’s influence on the regulation of the media sector in the digital age. It explores and compares several areas of European legislation that have an impact on the media sector, defined in a broad sense for its capacity to influence the public opinion at large.

It has often been claimed that Jews have a penchant for capitalism and capitalist economic activity. With this book, Adam Teller challenges that assumption. Examining how Jews achieved their extraordinary success within the late feudal economy of the eighteenth-century Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, he shows that economic success did not necessarily come through any innate entrepreneurial skills, but through identifying and exploiting economic niches in the pre-modern economy—in particular, the monopoly on the sale of grain alcohol. Jewish economic activity was a key factor in the development of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and it greatly enhanced the incomes, and thereby the social and political status, of the noble magnates, including the powerful Radziwiłł family. In turn, with the magnate's backing, Jews were able to leverage their own economic success into high status in estate society. Over time, relations within Jewish society began to change, putting less value on learning and pedigree and more on wealth and connections with the estate owners. This groundbreaking book exemplifies how the study of Jewish economic history can shed light on a crucial mechanism of Jewish social integration. In the Polish-Lithuanian setting, Jews were simultaneously a despised religious minority and key economic players, with a consequent standing that few could afford to ignore.