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Court orders release of county retirees’ pension payments in case filed by FAC and the Sacramento Bee

FAC July 14, 2010

In an important legal victory, the Superior Court in Sacramento has ruled that the pension system for county government workers must make public retirees’ names, and their pension benefits, for all retirees receiving $100,000 or more per year. The decision is the result of a lawsuit filed jointly by the First Amendment Coalition and the Sacramento Bee. Here is the court’s written opinion: [gview file=”https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Sac-Bee-FAC-vs-SCERS-final-order.pdf”] . From the Sacramento Bee: Judge orders benefit disclosure by

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Court Tosses FCC’s Indecency Policy

FAC July 13, 2010

A federal court tossed out the Federal Communications Commission’s indecency policy Tuesday, ruling that its poorly defined constructs violate the First Amendment. News July 13, 2010 By Ira Teinowitz In a major victory for Hollywood in general and the broadcast networks in particular, the three-judge U.S. court of appeals panel said the policy is “unconstitutionally vague” and creates “a chilling effect.” The challenge was brought by Fox Television Stations, and joined by NBC, ABC and the Center

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Apple drops Consumer Reports/iPhone 4 discussion threads

FAC July 13, 2010

Apple has been deleting negative consumer report summaries about its Iphone 4 and other products. -SMD TUAW Commentary/News By TJ Luoma If you were looking for a message thread on Apple’s support forums pointing to Consumer Reports’ article ‘not recommending’ the iPhone 4, it’s not there any more. Apple’s support forum moderators deleted the thread. Bing cached it.If it happened once, maybe you’d say it was a glitch. But what if it happened twice? Three

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China seeks to reduce Internet users’ anonymity

FAC July 13, 2010

As part of China’s Internet “real name system,” forum moderators would have to use their real names as would users of online bulletin boards.  Anonymous comments on news stories would be removed. – SMD News July 13, 2010 By AP BEIJING — A leading Chinese Internet regulator has vowed to reduce anonymity in China’s portion of cyberspace, calling for new rules to require people to use their real names when buying a mobile phone or

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Key US Senate panel backs ‘libel tourism’ bill

FAC July 13, 2010

The libel tourism measure would prevent US federal courts from recognizing or enforcing  foreign judgments for defamation, inconsistent with the first amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech. -SMD News By AFP WASHINGTON — A key US Senate panel on Tuesday approved a bill to shield US journalists, authors, and publishers from “libel tourists” who file suit in countries where they expect to get the most favorable ruling. The Senate Judiciary Committee,

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