RDB has advised its media clients on issues relating to free speech, invasion of privacy and defamation claims, accessing and opening records, reporter’s shield and Anti-SLAPP statutes, and intellectual property, among others. We have extensive experience handling both media law and First Amendment matters, and in fact, several of our lawyers were once professional reporters, editors, or photographers. These lawyers therefore have a depth of experience with media organizations not commonly found at other law firms. Our capabilities in the media field include the following:

• We defend our clients in defamation and invasion of privacy suits, and we invoke shield and Anti-SLAPP statutes to protect our clients from subpoenas and frivolous suits.
• We perform prepublication review of sensitive news articles and counsel media clients when readers demand corrections or retractions.
• We advise media and other clients on copyright and trademark disputes. For example, we act as general counsel to a national not-for-profit corporation, analyzing, advising, and initiating efforts to prosecute copyright infringement and related claims arising from the misappropriation of the client’s curriculum materials.

In these matters, as in all our representations, we work closely with our clients to settle matters swiftly and confidentially before litigation arises when appropriate. If litigation is warranted, however, we have the experience necessary to effectively represent our clients’ best interests and achieve favorable results.