[Rumori] [MediaMentor] ADBUSTERS WINS A LEGAL VICTORY AGAINST CANADA'S MEDIA GIANTS (fwd)

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ADBUSTERS WINS A LEGAL VICTORY AGAINST CANADA'S MEDIA GIANTS, LEGAL ACTION
IN THE US MAY BE NEXT

After 15 years of legal tussling to bring democracy to the public
airwaves, Adbusters http://www.adbusters.org/ has finally scored a great
victory. The Supreme Court of British Columbia has granted us an appeal in
our landmark case against Canada's CBC and Canwest Global, giving us the
go-ahead to set a precedent and establish some public rights over the
airwaves (check out the judges’ ruling here).
http://adbusters.org/files/pdf/adbusters_courtappeal_20090403.pdf

People are spending an unparalleled 8.5 hours per day in front of screens
and even with the influx of new screen formats – cell phones, computers,
Kindle – TV is still dominant. It’s the most powerful social
communications medium of our time. And yet it is a place where commercial
imperatives rule and dissenting voices are routinely censored. Adbusters’
attempts to purchase airtime from major commercial broadcasters for its
socially-minded public service spots have been repeatedly denied over the
years.
http://www.adbusters.org/abtv/censored_tv_spots.html

The airwaves are public property – just like city sidewalks or parks. They
are a public space where freedom of speech must prevail. This is an
inspiring idea for media activists and could pave the way for further
legal victories down the road not only on the TV airwaves, but in
cyberspace as well.

Not surprisingly, none of Canwest’s 13 daily newspapers or 23 TV channels
covered the appeal court ruling. The silence has been deafening. Canadians
citizens should be aware that the largest media conglomerate in our
country is censoring the news to suit its own interests.

Here’s who did cover the story:
CBC Radio,
http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20090408.shtml
the Globe and Mail,
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090406.wads0406/BNStory/National/
the Georgia Straight
http://www.straight.com/article-212819/bcs-highest-court-rules-adbusters-media-foundation-can-sue-cbc-and-global-tv
and the Tyee.
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Media/2009/04/07/Adbusters-win-appeal/

CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, MTV and the Food Channel have also repeatedly refused
to sell us airtime over the past 15 years and we would like to launch a
freedom of speech legal action in the US. If you know an American lawyer
who may be interested in being part of our legal team then let us know,
email kono at adbusters.org.

The endgame will be a series of lawsuits around the world forcing the half
a dozen media megacorporations controlling the bulk of news and
entertainment flows around the planet to return some control back to the
public.



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