CBLDF’s legal efforts in 2017 protected our community, overturned unconstitu-tional laws, and preserved the right to free expression. Some highlights:
California’s “Autograph Law”
The Fund helped facilitate the replacement of California’s flawed autograph law, protecting the rights of comics retailers, artists, and bookstores.
More:
- VICTORY! CA “Autograph Law” Replaced, Protecting Comics Retailers & Artists
- CBLDF Advisory: CA AB 1570
Tobinick v. Novella
CBLDF joined a Media Coalition amicus brief in Tobinick v. Novella, and the court upheld our assertion that speech hosted on a website that also displays ads does not automatically become “commercial speech,” a category of speech that has less protection. This is a valuable victory for creators who publish comics online!
More:
Virginia’s “Beloved Bill”
CBLDF continued battling the so-called “Beloved bill” in Virginia, which would have required schools to warn parents about materials containing “sexually explicit” content. The latest bill was vetoed by the governor.
More:
- VICTORY: “Beloved Bill” Vetoed in Virginia
- CBLDF Joins Letter Asking VA Governor to Again Veto ‘Beloved Bill’
- CBLDF Joins Protest of Revived ‘Beloved Bill’ in Virginia
- VICTORY in Virginia: State Board Rejects Classroom Censorship Proposal
- CBLDF Joins NCAC Rebuttal of Arguments for Classroom Censorship in Virginia
- CBLDF Joins Protest of Revived Virginia Proposal to Flag ‘Sexually Explicit’ School Books
- VICTORY in Virginia: Governor Vetoes Classroom Censorship Bill
- Students Join Growing Opposition to VA “Sexually Explicit Content” Bill
- CBLDF Joins Coalition Urging Veto of VA “Sexually Explicit Content” Bill
- Virginia Senate Passes Bill That Undermines Education
- CBLDF Joins Coalition Protesting Virginia Bill that Undermines Education
- Virginia House Bill Could Legitimize A Way to Ban Sexually Explicit Content in Schools
Florida Superintendent’s Ban of “Inappropriate” Books
CBLDF is defending vast swathes of library and classroom materials in Dixie County, Florida, where an order from the superintendent targets for removal any library materials, textbooks, or supplemental texts that contain “profanity, cursing, or inappropriate subject matter.”
More:
- Florida Community Pushes Back Against Superintendent’s Ban on ‘Inappropriate’ Books
- Florida Superintendent Orders Ban on All Books Judged ‘Inappropriate’
New Hampshire Parental Notification Bill
We joined the National Coalition Against Censorship to protest H.B. 103, an overly broad New Hampshire law that was intended to regulate sex education but was so vaguely worded that it could impact books in other courses, including comics.
More:
Anti-Science Bills
We joined coalition efforts to protest anti-science bills in Florida, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.
More:
- Florida Governor Signs School Censorship Bill into Law
- Florida Legislature Passes Classroom Censorship Bills
- Florida Classroom Censorship Bills Pass Through Committee, Await Final Hearing Before Vote
- Florida Classroom Censorship Bills Return for Second Year
- Florida Classroom Censorship Bills Gone–For Now
- Florida Bills Could Hold Education Hostage to Ideology
- CBLDF Joins Coalition Opposing Oklahoma Science Bill
- CBLDF Joins Opposition to South Dakota Science Education Bill
The Slants
Lee v. Tam
We joined a Cato Institute-led amicus brief in Lee v. Tam, a case in which the Supreme Court unani-mously struck down portions of the Lanham Act and upheld an activist Asian-American band’s right to an “offensive” trademark.
More:
- “The Band Who Must Not Be Named” Wins Supreme Court Case
- Supreme Court Hears Arguments in Lee v. Tam
- CBLDF Joins Amicus Brief in Support of “The Band Who Must Not Be Named”
U.S. Immigration Ban
CBLDF joined dozens of organizations to oppose President Donald J. Trump’s immigration ban on individuals from predominantly Muslim countries. Such a ban would impact creative freedom, collaboration, and the free flow of ideas.
More:
- CBLDF Joins Statement Against Revived Immigration Ban
- PEN America Notes Chilling Effect of U.S. Immigration Restrictions
- CBLDF Joins Statement Opposing U.S. Immigration Ban
DHS Password Policy
CBLDF joined a massive coalition to condemn a Department of Homeland Security proposal that would require non-citizens to provide their social media passwords as a condition of entering the United States. The policy would invade the privacy of foreign nationals and everyone in their social networks, including millions of U.S. citizens. The proposal also could impact U.S. citizens as other nations emulate DHS’s practices. The overly broad policy puts comics creators and convention-goers participating in events domestically and abroad at risk.
More:
- DHS Plans to Keep Tabs on All Immigrants’ Social Media Accounts
- Tell DHS Not to Require Social Media Passwords from Foreign Travelers
- CBLDF Joins Condemnation of Proposed DHS Password Policy
To find out more about what CBLDF did to defend comics and the right to read in 2017, check out our annual report here.
Help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work by visiting the Rewards Zone, making a donation, or becoming a member of CBLDF!