Policy Advocacy

Our latest work on media policy and intellectual property policy.

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Forbes Blog: Responding to Defamation Online

New Media Rights’ latest blog post for Forbes is all about defamation and what you should know before you decide to pursue a claim. Whether you own a business or have an active online presence, a hurtful statement can have disastrous and far-reaching effects. But just because someone said something mean doesn’t mean it’s illegal.

“Yes, it is true that our society places a significant value in freedom of speech, but there is a point, however, where statements normally protected under free speech cross into the realm of defamation. So the first step is recognizing what defamation looks like.”

New Media Rights urges California legislators to enact state-based net neutrality protections

New Media Rights has advocated for net neutrality for nearly a decade through comments (our most recent comments defending net neutrality were submitted last summer) and our work with the Consumer Advisory Committee at the Federal Communications Commission. While the FCC repealed net neutrality protections in December, the fight to preserve a free and open internet does not end with the federal government. A number of states have recently introduced legislation to ensure that net neutrality protections survive, and in California, it has taken the form of a handful of bills that would offer comprehensive protection.

Today, New Media Rights sent a letter to senators Ben Hueso and Mike Morrell, the chair and vice-chair of the California Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications urging them to support SB 822.

Event: Copyright for Creatives @ San Diego City College

Executive Director Art Neill and New Media Rights Fellow Erika Lee will discuss the basics of intellectual property at the San Diego City College on Tuesday, May 1 at 6pm! Come join us! The event is free and open to the public.

Natalie Nicol
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Forbes Blog: Responsible Enforcement of Copyrights and Trademarks

New Media Rights latest multi-part series for Forbes is all about enforcing your intellectual property rights responsibly. There are many types of legal disputes that you might encounter when you own intellectual property. While there is no definitive formula to solving every type of legal dispute, there are things you can keep in mind the next time you find yourself in a bind.

The first part of the series addresses copyright disputes, and breaks down some of the do’s and don’ts of handling infringement effectively. Often copyright owners don’t know what to do when they believe that someone is infringing on their work.

Generous Sponsors are Matching Donations to NMR Up to Seven Dollars for Every Dollar Donated This Month

We are excited to announce that New Media Rights has been invited to participate in the DuckDuckGo Privacy Challenge. Generous sponsors are matching any donations to New Media Rights up to $7 for every $1 today. That's not a typo! Your $20 donation would, during some weeks, give us the equivalent of $140. Click here to donate here in any amount. Being invited shines a spotlight on our goals in the privacy realm...

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Fair Use Week 2018 Reminds Us Why Fair Use Is Worth Protecting
It's Fair Use Week 2018 this week, but every week is Fair Use Week for New Media Rights, because everyday we fight for artists and innovators against legal bullies who don’t respect fair use. 
 
Fair use is the vehicle millions of individuals use to exercise their freedom of expression every day. That's why this week, we'll be highlighting why fair use is important to creators and what New Media Rights is doing and has done to support it.
 
So what is fair use and why is it so important?
 
Event: Health Journalism 2018 conference in April 2018
 
New Media Rights will be speaking at the AHCJ (Association of Healthcare Journalists) annual meeting this year in a panel on Sunday, April 15, 2018 from 9 to 10:20
 
The Health Journalism 2018 conference will take place in Phoenix, AZ at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs resort.
 
Panel details: 
 
Think Before You Sign: At one time or another we all sign contracts with worrisome clauses – we have to earn a living! We may also spend a lot of time chasing our dream publications, but what happens when you’ve finally broken in only to learn that the contract gives you the jitters? Paying attention to contracts and protecting oneself against litigation has never been more important than in today's media environment as contracts from websites to the glossies are evolving in ways that don’t benefit writers. For instance, contracts that are work-made-for-hire and also contain an indemnity clause can leave freelancers especially vulnerable. This panel will help you understand clauses in contracts that leave you legally and financially vulnerable, and will provide strategies to help you push back. Not all efforts to get a publisher to change clauses are met with success, and, in the end, you may decide it’s best to walk. This panel will provide the information you need to help decide what’s best for you.
 
Come out and join us if you're in town!
 
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Things you can do to be #PrivacyAware on Data Privacy Day 2018

safeguarding consumer data

New Media Rights has joined the National Cyber Security Alliance for the fourth year in a row in its international effort to support privacy awareness: Data Privacy Day. Each January 28th, hundreds of organizations and individuals collaborate to generate awareness about the importance of respecting privacy and safeguarding data.
 
For our part during the year, each year we respond to 500+ requests for legal services. Many of those assistance requests relate to either helping consumers deal with potential privacy violations or helping businesses/non-profits/creators understand and avoid violating user privacy in their projects.
 
Since Data Privacy Day is this Sunday, it's a time to bring focus our efforts to both prevent privacy violations before they happen as well as provide clarity and next steps to those who have suffered violations. 
 
We've found many privacy-related legal issues can be avoided if the projects responsible for the violations -- the startup companies, app developers, and nonprofits who are collecting, tracking, and publishing user data -- start with a well-thought out game plan before collecting any data.
 
That said, formulating that game plan is expensive because it requires (a) access to expert knowledge that only a few attorneys are trained to provide and (b) a large time commitment from those attorneys who have to interface with the technical developers, managers, and key-decisions makers related to the project. READ MORE