Media Law

Unit I

Constitutional Foundations o Freedom of speech and expression, constitutional status of the media, Constitutional restrictions on the freedom, o Morality, Obscenity and Censorship o Contempt of Court o Defamation o The right of Privacy testing reasonableness of restrictions (through landmark case laws such The Express Newspaper Case, The Sakal Papers Case, The Bennett Coleman Case); Emergency and Press Censorship

• Article 19 — Six Fundamental Freedoms and Reasonable Restrictions
• Torts related to Reputation (Defamation) & Personal Relations
• Defamation
• The Contempt Law and Practice — Articles 129 and 215 of the Constitution of India, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971

Unit II

Copyright v. freedom of expression · Rights of broadcasting organisations and of performers · The Copyright Act (Amendment) Act, 2012

• Neighbouring Rights: Performers Rights, Rights of Broadcasting Organizations and Rights of the Producers of Phonograms

Unit III

Cinema as a means of expression protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India r/w The Right to Information Act, 2005 Right to portray historical events and social evils The Cinematograph Act, 1952 Pre-censorship or prior restraint Regulation of cinema halls

Unit IV

Commercial speech as a fundamental right · Statutory regulation of advertisements · Broadcasting rights · Evolution of broadcasting laws in India o The Cable Television Network (Regulation ) Act, 1955 o Information Technology Act, 2000 o TRAI Recommendations

Unit V

Social media and technological hindrance to implementation of laws relating to protecting rights competing with Media’s right of freedom of expression Self Regulation.