Philadelphia refuses advocacy ad for airport

Philadelphia is facing a lawsuit over its refusal to run a billboard ad by the National Association of Colored People (NAACP) advocating prison reform . In bringing the suit, the NAACP and the ACLU said the city has not been even handed in administrating its ad policy, accepting some political ads but refusing others. That [...]

State attorneys general put heat on Village Voice Media alleging it runs sex trafficking hub

The National Association of Attorneys General has written a letter to Village Voice Media saying its efforts to limit prostitution ads including those involving children on its Backpage.com web site have been “ineffective.” Backpage.com denies it allows illegal ads, but now the association is asking them to answer detailed questions about its practices. -db From [...]

California: Lawsuit against Facebook alleges violation of law forbidding use of minor’s names and faces

A 1971 California law forbids publication of minors’ names and photos in ads without consent of parents, bringing into question Facebook’s use of the “like” button that turns minors into endorsers of brands or ads. -db Onlne Media Daily August 30, 2010 By Wendy Davis A new lawsuit against Facebook for allegedly violating a California [...]

Federal appeals court rejects free speech argument in grape growers dispute

The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that in requiring grape growers to pay assessments levied by the California Table Grape Commission for generic marketing and advertising did not violate the First Amendment. -DB Metropolitan News-Enterprise November 23, 2009 By Kenneth Ofgang A California law compelling table grape growers to pay for generic advertising [...]