Ch. 3 Vocab: Media Law

The exclusive right to reproduce, adapt, distribute, display or perform a creative work.

• copyright

• copyright infringement

• court-recognized privileges

• defamation

Improper use of a copyrighted work; the theft of intellectual property.

• copyright

• copyright infringement

• court-recognized privileges

• defamation

Privileges recognized by the courts and usually based on the First Amendment; vary from state to state and from situation to situation.

• copyright

• copyright infringement

• court-recognized privileges

• defamation

Damage to someone's reputation brought about by libel or slander.

• copyright

• copyright infringement

• court-recognized privileges

• defamation

The doctrine that there are some circumstances in which copyrighted material may be used without acquiring permission from the copyright holder.

• fair use

• freedom of information laws

• intellectual property

• liability

Laws requiring that all records generated by a public body are open to the public unless they are specifically exempted by law.

• fair use

• freedom of information laws

• intellectual property

• liability

The result of creative work; for example, a novel, a song or artwork.

• fair use

• freedom of information laws

• intellectual property

• liability

Legal responsibility. The idea that any person who could have and should have prevented an injury can be held responsible for it.

• fair use

• freedom of information laws

• intellectual property

• liability

Knowingly publishing untrue or misleading words, pictures or symbols---that harms another person's reputation or harms an organization's ability to conduct its affairs in a community.

• liability

• libel

• press credentials

• press package

A document---usually a card with a reporter's picture and name and the name of his or her publication---that identifies an individual as a member of the press; gives a reporter access to people, events and legal or governmental proceedings that may be off-limits to the general public.

• liability

• libel

• press credentials

• press package