MVV181K Media Law

Faculty of Law
Autumn 2015
Extent and Intensity
0/1. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Levan Nanobashvili (lecturer), prof. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. Ing. Michal Radvan, Ph.D.
Department of Financial Law and Economics – Faculty of Law
Contact Person: Mgr. Věra Redrupová, B.A.
Supplier department: Department of Financial Law and Economics – Faculty of Law
Timetable of Seminar Groups
MVV181K/01: Mon 23. 11. 18:15–19:45 038, Tue 24. 11. 18:15–19:45 S125, 18:15–19:45 S126, Wed 25. 11. 15:05–16:35 S126, 15:05–16:35 S125, Thu 26. 11. 18:15–19:45 S125, 18:15–19:45 S126, Mon 30. 11. 15:05–16:35 038, Tue 1. 12. 8:00–9:30 038, Wed 2. 12. 15:05–16:35 S126, 15:05–16:35 S125, Thu 3. 12. 15:05–16:35 S125, 15:05–16:35 S126
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course students should be able to:
- understand and explain basic principles of the freedom of expression and the media law;
- work with information on rules applied in the media law;
- create strategies for protecting the freedom of speech and expression;
- make reasoned decisions about specific cases and problems related to the media law;
- make deductions based on acquired knowledge and compare general principles of the media law with applicable laws of the student’s areas of practice;
- interpret legislative intent and motivation behind general rules applied in the media law
Syllabus
  • Class 1. Freedom of expression
  • a. What is speech?
  • b. Right to criticize the government;
  • c. The First Amendment;
  • d. Prior restraint;
  • e. Pentagon papers (New York Times v. US, 403 U.S. 713 (1971);
  • Literature: Mass Media Law, Chapter 2, pages 36 – 81;
  • Class 2. Restrictions on the freedom of expression
  • a. Time, place and manner restrictions under the US law;
  • b. Types of forums;
  • c. Hate speech;
  • d. Speech on the Internet;
  • e. Censorship by Internet companies;
  • f. Obscene materials;
  • Literature: Mass Media Law, Chapter 3, pages 111 – 140; Chapter 13, pages 501-515
  • Class 3. Internet
  • a. Most important invention of the humankind;
  • b. Regulation of the Internet;
  • c. Code v. law;
  • d. Net neutrality and its importance for the freedom of expression;
  • e. Privacy on the Internet;
  • f. Social networks;
  • Literature: Digital Media Law, Chapter 4, pages 75 – 102; Watchdogs under Watch: Media in the Age of Cyber Surveillance. 2015. At http://www.cima.ned.org/resource/watchdogs-under-watch/
  • Class 4. Libel. Establishing a case
  • a. Elements of libel;
  • b. Damage;
  • c. Libel on the Internet (Delfi AS v. Estonia (no.64569/09);
  • Literature: Mass Media Law, Chapter 4, pages 144 – 173. Delfi AS v. Estonia
  • https://www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/37287/en/european-court-strikes-serious-blow-to-free-speech-online
  • Class 5. Libel. Proof of fault
  • a. New York Times v. Sullivan;
  • b. Public v. private persons;
  • c. Limited-purpose public figures;
  • d. Fault (negligence or actual malice);
  • Literature: Mass Media Law, Chapter 5, pages 176 – 208
  • Class 6. Invasion of Privacy
  • a. Definition of privacy;
  • b. Use of name or likeness;
  • c. Intrusion and the press;
  • d. Is there privacy in public?
  • e. Use of hidden recording devices;
  • Literature: Mass Media Law, Chapter 7, pages 250 – 289.
  • Class 7. Protection of News sources
  • a. Importance of protection of news sources;
  • b. Failure to keep a promise of confidentiality;
  • c. Who is a journalist?
  • d. Anonymity and the Internet;
  • Literature: Mass Media Law, Chapter 10, pages 391 – 403; 413 – 438.
  • Class 8. Intellectual Property: Copyright
  • a. Conflict between copyright and the freedom of expression;
  • b. Facts and ideas;
  • c. Government documents;
  • d. Fair use of copyrighted works;
  • e. News and fair use;
  • f. Social networking;
  • g. Copyright v. “Copyleft”;
  • Literature: Digital Media Law, Chapter 7, pages 161 – 198;
Literature
  • See Teacher’s Information for full details
Teaching methods
Theoretical preparation, lectures, and discussions
Assessment methods
Class participation and discussions, take-home essay exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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