Study Questions

  • What were the major components of the Copyright Act of 1976? How has the provision for new media impacted today’s marketplace?

  • What three elements must be present for libel to occur?

  • What are the four major defenses against libel?

  • How did the PATRIOT Act limit some forms of speech after 9/11.

  • What are the four major forms of invasion of privacy?

  • How has libel on social media been handled? Explain.

  • What are shield laws? List recent cases involving shield laws.

  • How do the free speech rights of high school students differ from those of adults, according to the decisions of Hazelwood and Fredrick v. Morse?

  • Explain the concept of net neutrality, and how the absence of rules requiring neutrality might have an impact on users.

  • What effect has the Citizen’s United ruling had on political speech? Explain.