Author: cbldf

THE CBLDF PRESENTS LIBERTY ANNUAL 2010

Berkeley, CA – 10 September 2010 – Image Comics and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund are proud to launch the most exciting edition of their annual benefit anthology yet! THE CBLDF PRESENTS LIBERTY ANNUAL 2010 is powered by the donated time and energy of comic book luminaries to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

CBLDF’s LIBERTY ANNUAL 2010 boasts 48 incredible pages of story and art celebrating Free Expression! Previous volumes, published by Image Comics under the title CBLDF’s Liberty Comics, have so far raised more than $50,000 for the Fund.
Available Now!

Job Opportunities At CBLDF

The CBLDF is currently hiring for a new Development Manager, and has a variety of volunteer opportunities available in our New York home office, and for telecommuters. Read on to learn how you can be a part of the team that protects comics’ First Amendment rights!

CBLDF Joins Challenge To Alaska Censorship Law

CBLDF joins a coalition of organizations and local booksellers filing suit to block a broad Alaska censorship law that bans constitutionally protected speech on the Internet on topics including contraception and pregnancy, sexual health, literature, and art and also threatens retailers of books, magazines, movies and other media.

Signed in May by Governor Parnell and effective July 1, the law, Section 11.61.128 of the Alaska Statutes, imposes two severe restrictions on the distribution of constitutionally protected speech on the Internet and in book and video stores and libraries. The law could make anyone who operates a website or communicates through a listserv criminally liable for nudity or sexually related material, if the material can be considered “harmful to minors” under the law’s definition. In effect, it bans from the Internet anything that may be “harmful to minors,” including material adults have a First Amendment right to view. Also, a bookseller, video retailer, or librarian can be prosecuted if he or she is unaware that it contains nudity or sexual content and unknowingly sells, rents, or loans a book, video, magazine or other media to a minor whether online or in a brick and mortar location. Violators of either part of the law can be sentenced to up to two years in prison, must register as sex offenders and could be forced to forfeit their business.

Robert Corn-Revere Named CBLDF Legal Counsel

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is pleased to announce the engagement of Robert Corn-Revere as the organization’s new legal counsel. Bob will lead the CBLDF’s legal program, serving as the first responder to First Amendment emergencies that come to the organization’s attention, as well as providing guidance and assistance to the comics community on legal issues that impact their First Amendment rights. He succeeds legendary First Amendment advocate Burton Joseph, who passed away earlier this year.

Corn-Revere is one of the country’s most prominent First Amendment experts, with extensive publications and litigation experience.

CBLDF Announces Changes To Board of Directors

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund announces changes to its Board of Directors made at the Board’s meeting at Comic-Con International. Chris Powell stepped down as President, citing successfully meeting the goals he set upon taking the presidency in April of 2009 as the reason for the change. Powell will remain on the Board as a director. Larry Marder, the creator of Beanworld, and editor of this CBLDF’s Liberty Annual 2010 was elected to succeed Powell as President. Dale Cendali, a nationally recognized leader in the field of intellectual property, joins the Board as a director.

Introducing CBLDF’s Education & Outreach Initiative

Betsy Rosenblatt, the CBLDF’s Advisory Chair for Education & Outreach outlines some easy ways you can support the CBLDF’s mission, from creative fundraising to helping us improve our education program. Read on for full details!

A Word from CBLDF’s Advisory Chair For Education & Outreach

Hello!

I’m Betsy Rosenblatt, the new CBLDF Advisory Chair for Outreach and Education. What does that mean? It means that I’ll be volunteering for the CBLDF—and, I hope, working with some of you—to get the word about the CBLDF out to new communities: lawyers, librarians, donors, readers, and everyone else.