Media Coalition brought a lawsuit on behalf of some of its members and Louisiana booksellers and publishers challenging a law that required websites to age-verify every internet user before providing access to material that could be deemed “harmful to minors.”
Massachusetts H.B. 1513 would make it a crime to disseminate a nude or sexually explicit image of another person if one knows or should have known the person depicted did not consent.
Michigan S.B. 508 would make it a crime to disseminate a nude or sexually explicit image of another person without consent and if the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Booksellers and publishers filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new Louisiana law that requires websites to age-verify every Internet user before providing access to non-obscene material that could be deemed harmful to any minor.
Media Coalition, the trade association which has been fighting to preserve freedom of speech since its founding in 1973, has created the Media Coalition Foundation. The Foundation is a tax-exempt organization that will offer individuals and others the opportunity to make tax-deductible contributions to help further Media Coalition’s work protecting the public’s right to access the broadest possible range of information, opinion and entertainment.
Massachusetts H.B. 1399 would require anyone who enters into a contract with anyone charged or convicted of a crime to report it to the state Attorney General and post a bond equal to the value of the contract.
Alabama H.B. 39 would impose a 40 percent tax on “harmful to minors” material, with the exception of movies rated “R” or “NC-17.” It would also impose a 10 percent tax on sexually oriented material.
The U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona permanently ordered state prosecutors to halt enforcement of a law that criminalizes the distribution of a nude photo without the consent of the person depicted. The order approved a joint final settlement between the parties.
A federal court today permanently ordered Arizona state prosecutors to halt enforcement of a 2014 law restricting the display of nude images.
California A.B. 538 would require anyone that enters into a contract for “the sale of the story of a crime for which the offender was convicted” with a person convicted of specified crimes to report it to the Office of Survivor Rights and Services.
New York A.B. 7904 and S.B. 5650 would create a right of publicity in a person’s name, voice, signature, image or likeness for any person deceased within the last 70 years who was domiciled at New York at the time of death. There is an exception for expressive use, but there is a “caveat” to this exception.
Delaware S.B. 68 would bar the advertising to a minor of certain First Amendment-protected material. Websites directed to minors would be barred from advertising the material altogether.
Connecticut H.B. 6921 would make it a crime to disseminate a nude or sexually explicit photo without the consent of the person depicted and if the person knew that the person depicted understood the picture would remain private.
Maine L.D. 679 would make it a crime to distribute a nude or sexually explicit image of an identifiable person if the person knows or should have known that the person depicted did not consent to its distribution.
Texas S.B. 1135 would bar the distribution of nude or sexually explicit images without the consent of the person depicted, if the person depicted is identifiable (even if the identifying information was added by a third party) and if the distribution caused harm to the person depicted.
Maine L.D. 1114 would make it a crime to electronically transmit “sexually explicit material” to a minor under 14 years old.
Vermont H.B. 105 would make it a crime to disseminate a nude or sexually explicit image of another person if one knows or should have known that the person depicted did not consent to its dissemination.
Louisiana H.B. 153 would require any website in the state who publishes “harmful to minors” material to make every visitor “electronically acknowledge and attest” to being 18 years old before accessing the material.
The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania struck down a Pennsylvania law that allowed victims to stop conduct — including speech — by a convicted offender if it causes “mental anguish.”
Alabama S.B. 197 would create a right of publicity in a person’s “indicia of identity.” There is an exception for expressive works, but for expressive works that are “a replica as to constitute a copy,” the exception is contingent on the use being protected by the U.S. and Alabama Constitutions.
Rhode Island H.B. 5770 and S.B. 625 and 630 would bar the nonconsensual distribution of nude or sexually explicit images if the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy.
North Dakota S.B. 2357 would criminalize the nonconsensual distribution of nude or sexually explicit images if the person depicted had a reasonable expectation of privacy and he or she suffered emotional distress or harm as a result.
California S.B. 676 would criminalize the publication of a name or other personal information “associated” with a nude photo distributed without consent.
Arkansas S.B. 79 would create a right of publicity in an individual’s name, voice, signature, image or likeness. Artistic use is exempted from the right, but only if the use is protected by the First Amendment.
Texas H.B. 101 and H.B. 603 would criminalize the distribution of nude images if one knows or should have known that the person depicted did not consent to the distribution.
