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Topic: Taming the Wild West of the Internet – Legal Attempts to Impose Liability for Online Content
Speakers: Jonathan Cohen and David Oxenford of the Washington DC law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP
Presentation:
We are living at a moment of extraordinary technological change and this is reflected in changes in the how people consume information. The media landscape is increasingly dominated by social media and virtually every company needs to have a presence there. The social media platforms generally have welcomed content that other information providers post, as they are generally shielded from liability for anything contained in that material. But times may be changing. There has been a significant push for reform of Section 230 of the Communications Act, which has been held to shield online platforms from liability for harms caused by content posted on their sites by third parties. The U.S. Supreme Court recently considered a case challenging the extent of Section 230 protection and while the Court decided not to decide the issue, further litigation is working its way through the courts. At the same time, the Court is poised to take up a pair of cases challenging state laws that dictate content moderation practices to social media platforms. And more litigation and new legislation are expected, especially considering the novel issues that generative AI will trigger. What impact could all this have on companies that use these platforms to disseminate news and entertainment, or to promote their products or services?
Join Jonathan Cohen and David Oxenford of the Washington DC law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP for a discussion of these issues and related topics on Tuesday, September 12, at 5 PM EDT.
Speakers' bios:
David Oxenford, a partner in the law firm Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP, has represented media companies in Washington, DC, for over 40 years. He started his broadcasting career in college radio, where he managed his college’s FM station and worked with friends who sought to build or buy their own radio station after graduation. With his background and experience, he has a deep understanding of the media industry and the issues crucial to organizations in today’s competitive landscape. With a wide-ranging practice, David represents broadcasters and other media companies on FCC regulatory matters and on transactions and other business matters. He also works with digital media companies navigating music licensing copyright and other content issues. At the center of many of the debates over broadcast and music licensing issues, he is a regular speaker at broadcast and digital media conventions and seminars. David is also the editor and principal writer of the influential Broadcast Law Blog, read by thousands every month and widely quoted in broadcast, media, and legal publications.
Jonathan Cohen is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Wilkinson Barker Knauer, where his practice spans tech, media, and telecom and is informed by a career that includes time spent in government (at the White House and the FCC), in the media, and on political campaigns. He helps clients devise and implement policy advocacy and transactional strategy across a range of areas, from media and tech policy to broadband wireless deployment and spectrum licensing. Jonathan has negotiated and closed countless telecom transactions and worked on a wide variety of policy issues, earning him nationwide recognition for his work. Jonathan holds degrees from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University Law Center and began his career as a radio news reporter.
