CBS - SCOTUS OVERTURNS JANET JACKSON RULING

SCOTUS OVERTURNS JANET JACKSON RULING

The legal debate over Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during the halftime show at the 2004 Super Bowl will resume again following the decision of the Supreme Court on Monday to set aside a ruling by a federal appellate court overturning the FCC's $550,000 fine imposed on CBS for permitting the incident to be aired. The order follows last week's ruling by the high court that the FCC has the power to hold broadcasters accountable for the use of "fleeting expletives" on the air. Following the decision, the network said that it is confident the courts "will again recognize that the Super Bowl incident, while inappropriate and regrettable, was not and could not have been anticipated by CBS." In its report about the court's decision, the New York Times observed, "The exposure of Ms. Jackson's breast lasted nine-sixteenths of one second, the Third Circuit said. That is barely enough time for the speediest wide receiver to cover five yards on a dry field, but plenty of time to generate litigation that has lasted half a decade, with accompanying lawyers' fees." In a related manner, a bill has been introduced in the House that would bar ads for erectile dysfunction or "male enhancement" between 6 00 a.m. and 10 00 p.m. on broadcast television.

05/05/2009