Prince Lobel Tye LLP

06/11/2021

Last week, a Massachusetts judge ruled that the Public Records Law does not prohibit the release of police misconduct records.

Our media lawyers Jeff Pyle and Michael Lambert are proud to represent the Worcester Telegram & Gazette in this important public records case.

Worcester broke Massachusetts Public Records Law by improperly withholding records of police misconduct investigations from the Telegram & Gazette.

02/17/2021

Prince Lobel Attorney Joe Steinfield unpacks the recent defamation cases brought by voting machine manufacturers seeking billions of dollars in damages.

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches”

01/07/2021

New from the 1st Circuit: Secretly recording police officers performing their duties in public is constitutionally protected as newsgathering activity.

Recordings of police play a "critical role in informing the public about how the police are conducting themselves."

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has struck down the Massachusetts “wiretap” statute — which bans secret audio recordings — as it applies to the surreptitious recording of police…

12/02/2020

New York has enacted legislation protecting the "right of publicity" of individuals who die in the state. Notably, the law exempts expressive works such as books, magazines, and newspapers as well as works of "public interest."

Governor Cuomo signed legislation (S5959D /A.5605-C) that establishes a "Right to Publicity" for deceased individuals to protect against the commercial exploitation, or unauthorized use, of their personal characteristics that have commercial value - their name, picture, voice or signature

09/21/2020

Media/First Amendment attorney Jeff Pyle tells Washington Post that the fair report privilege protects CNN's coverage of Alan Dershowitz's testimony during President Trump's impeachment trial. Reporters are shielded from defamation liability "so long as the overall coverage is fair and accurate."

The famed defense attorney claims that CNN misportrayed his argument during the impeachment controversy.

08/21/2020

The law on embedding copyrighted works on social media continues to evolve. In an article for the American Bar Association's Forum on Communications Law, media lawyer Michael Lambert provides updates on recent embedding cases from this summer and explains best practices in minimizing legal risks while embedding online.

07/22/2020

There have been a number of lawsuits aimed at silencing speech this summer. Attempts to muzzle Mary Trump and John Bolton have failed. An effort to censor Michael Cohen is pending.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reaffirmed its strong stance against such speech restrictions, holding that an involuntary non-disparagement order between parents was an unconstitutional prior restraint.

Click below to read more about the case, Shak v. Shak, and what it means for family and First Amendment law in the Bay State from our media/First Amendment attorney Michael Lambert.

06/01/2020

To all Boston and New England journalists: We are providing legal assistance to those covering protests. If you would like to speak with one of our attorneys, contact us at [email protected].

Home eBulletin Prince Lobel providing emergency legal assistance to journalists covering protests eBulletinNews Stories Prince Lobel providing emergency legal assistance to journalists covering protests June 1, 2020 Media lawyers at Prince Lobel, in association with NENPA, are on call to provide eme...