OFF THE WIRE
One of EFF's goals is to give you a basic roadmap to the legal issues
you may confront as a blogger to let you know you have rights and to
encourage you to blog freely with the knowledge that your legitimate
speech is protected. To that end we have created the Legal Guide for Bloggers a collection of blogger-specific FAQs addressing everything from fair use to defamation law to workplace whistle-blowing.
In addition EFF continues to battle for bloggers' rights in the courtroom:
Bloggers can be journalists (and journalists can be bloggers).
We're battling for legal and institutional recognition that if you
engage in journalism you're a journalist with all of the attendant
rights privileges and protections. (See Apple v. Does.)
Bloggers are entitled to free speech.
We're working to shield you from frivolous or abusive threats and
lawsuits. Internet bullies shouldn't use copyright libel or other claims
to chill your legitimate speech. (See OPG v. Diebold.)
Bloggers have the right to political speech.
We're
working with a number of other public-interest organizations to ensure
that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) doesn't gag bloggers'
election-related speech. We argue that the FEC should adopt a
presumption against the regulation of election-related speech by
individuals on the Internet and interpret the existing media exemption
to apply to online media outlets that provide news reporting and
commentary regarding an election -- including blogs. (See our joint comments to the FEC [PDF 332K].)
Bloggers have the right to stay anonymous.
We're continuing our battle
to protect and preserve your constitutional right to anonymous speech
online including providing a guide to help you with strategies for
keeping your identity private when you blog. (See How to Blog Safely (About Work or Anything Else).)
Bloggers have freedom from liability for hosting speech the same way other web hosts do.
We're working to strengthen Section 230 liability protections under the Communications Decency Act (CDA) while spreading the word that bloggers are entitled to them. (See Barrett v. Rosenthal.)
If you'd like to spread the word about our work consider adding an EFF Bloggers' Rights Badge to your blog or website.