San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera has decided that Monster energy drinks are bad for you. He’s also decided that Monster has to broadcast that message to its consumers. Mere months after ending its battle with cell phone purveyors, the … Continue reading
As we reported back in September, the City of San Francisco lost its bid to force cell phone sellers to post alarmist, misleading warnings about the supposed health risks of cell phone use. The Ninth Circuit struck down the ordinance … Continue reading
It is said that a person’s home is his castle, but it is apparently not a personal billboard, at least according to a recent decision from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. In Brown v. Town of Cary, 2013 U.S. … Continue reading
In 1765, Philadelphia printer William Bradford protested against the Stamp Act by printing this symbol in the spot where people were supposed to attach the required tax stamp. Bradford was complying with the law—while drawing people’s attention to the injustice … Continue reading
A few days ago, AdWeek named this the best commercial of 2012. For about half a century now, the Supreme Court has allowed government to restrict the expressive rights of business owners under the theory of “commercial speech.” The idea … Continue reading
The Ninth Circuit quietly but firmly slapped down a San Francisco ordinance that would require cell phone stores to distribute a “fact sheet” to customers, requiring the disclosure of an alarmist and misleading message about the safety of cell phones, … Continue reading
Just about everything the government does involves speech of one form or another. Certainly, nobody will contest that government officials enjoy their freedom to take to the bully pulpit. But, when they do, is their speech entitled to the same protection that … Continue reading