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Adbusters Wins Legal Victory
"Our appeal was unanimously approved. We’re one step closer to winning the right to buy airtime for citizen-produced, social marketing messages." says the Adbusters non-profit website.
In a unanimous decision released on Friday, April 3, the BC Court of Appeal overturned a previous BC Supreme Court ruling. Adbusters can now take its case against the media conglomerates to the BC Supreme Court.
Since 1989 Adbusters has attempted to purchase airtime from major commercial broadcasters in order to air its socially-minded public service spots. Routinely denied by network executives in Canada and the US, Adbusters is often left with little to no explanation as to why these citizen-produced messages are being censored. The case against the CBC and Global Television Network Inc. was brought about because Adbusters believes that the Canadian Charter grants every Canadian the right to access the public airwaves; to walk into their local TV stations and purchase 30-seconds of airtime under the same rules and conditions as advertising agencies do.
At issue in this groundbreaking case is the right of Canadian citizens to have (as stipulated by the Canadian Broadcasting Act) “a reasonable opportunity … to be exposed to the expression of differing views on matters of public concern.”
“This is a great day for Adbusters,” says Kalle Lasn, editor and co-founder of the magazine. “After 20 years of legal struggle, the courts have finally given us permission to take on the media corporations and hold them up to public scrutiny.”
Go see the whole story..
http://www.adbusters.org/campaigns/updates/adbusters_wins_legal_victory.html
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thinktank
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 17:18 on April 12th, 2009
I definately do not agree with their message but they should have the right to have their opinions aired (especially on CBC as that is a public broadcaster)!
at 19:22 on April 12th, 2009
I second that opinion...
I actually followed the Supreme Court proceedings in the courtroom. I thought Adbusters' lawyer confused the judge and made a few errors, and you can only plead Charter of Rights against a governmental entity, but I'm happy the case is going through, presumably against CBC only...
at 21:13 on April 12th, 2009
We need more such videos and days and start pushing the message. It is good news all over.
at 18:20 on April 12th, 2009
Yes, how could it be otherwise?
at 18:54 on April 12th, 2009
This is good news for Canadian media.
at 18:24 on April 13th, 2009
Good for them! I do applaud AdBusters for their social messages and their initiative