March Madness and Advertising: Use of NCAA Trademarks (2023 Update – Part 1)

By |2023-03-09T10:43:00-06:00March 9th, 2023|Legal News|

With Selection Sunday this weekend, the 2023 NCAA Collegiate Basketball Tournament is about to begin.  As faithful readers of this blog know, broadcasters, publishers and other businesses need to be wary about potential claims arising from their use of terms and logos associated with the tournament. NCAA Trademarks The NCAA owns the well-known marks March... Continue Reading…

Direct from The FCC – What’s on the Agenda for Broadcast Regulation?

By |2023-02-22T09:44:01-06:00February 22nd, 2023|Legal News|

Early this year, we provided our look into the crystal ball to see what was on the FCC’s agenda for broadcasters in  the coming year.  Yesterday, the FCC published in the Federal Register its own list – its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda – listing an inventory of the matters at the FCC awaiting Commission action.  The... Continue Reading…

$504,000 Proposed Fine for Improper Use of EAS Tones – How Little Things Can Add Up to Big FCC Penalties

By |2023-02-15T09:16:15-06:00February 15th, 2023|Legal News|

The recent $504,000 fine proposed to be levied on Fox for the use of simulated EAS tones in an NFL football promotion (see FCC’s Notice of Apparent Liability here) is obviously a message to broadcasters to remember that EAS tones can only be used for real alerts or authorized tests of the system – and... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: December 10 to December 16, 2022

By |2022-12-18T09:26:33-06:00December 18th, 2022|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. By a Public Notice issued on December 15, the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau told broadcasters to submit... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: December 3 to December 9, 2022

By |2022-12-11T10:41:55-06:00December 11th, 2022|Legal News|

Here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The FCC has sent an e-mail, apparently to all broadcasters, regarding the cybersecurity of broadcast stations that use the DASDEC... Continue Reading…

Big FTC Penalties on Google and iHeart for Deceptive Endorsements in Broadcast Commercials Mandate Care in Crafting Your Local Advertising

By |2022-12-07T13:45:25-06:00December 7th, 2022|Legal News|

All media companies, including broadcasters, webcasters, podcasters and others, need to consider carefully their advertising production after the big penalties imposed on Google and iHeart for broadcast commercials where local DJs promoted the Pixel 4 phone.  Promotions included statements that clearly implied that the announcers had used the phone, including statements that it was “my... Continue Reading…

Federal Election Commission Adopts New Rules for Sponsorship Disclaimers for Online Political Advertising – And to Consider Rules for Political Marketing Through Social Media Influencers 

By |2022-12-05T11:23:32-06:00December 5th, 2022|Legal News|

Last week, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) adopted new disclaimer requirements for internet-based political advertising, including the identification of the ad sponsor.  This decision resolves many of the issues that have been debated at the FEC for over a decade as to what internet content is considered a “public communication” that requires a disclosure of... Continue Reading…

This Week in Regulation for Broadcasters: November 26 to December 2 , 2022

By |2022-12-04T09:44:10-06:00December 4th, 2022|Legal News|

In a very busy week, here are some of the regulatory developments of significance to broadcasters from the past week, with links to where you can go to find more information as to how these actions may affect your operations. The Federal Trade Commission and seven state Attorneys General announced a settlement with Google LLC... Continue Reading…

Go to Top