Advertising and Public Relations Law

Addressing a critical need, Advertising and Public Relations Law explores the issues and ideas that affect the regulation of advertising and public relations speech, some of the most dynamic and prevalent areas of professional communications today. This updated third edition explores the categorization of different kinds of speech and their varying levels of First Amendment protection as well as common areas of litigation for communicators such as defamation, invasion of privacy, and copyright and trademark infringement.

Features of this edition include:

A new chapter on Internet-related laws affecting advertising and public relations speech.

History and background of major legal theories affecting professional communicators.

Extended excerpts from major court decisions.

Overviews of relevant federal and state regulatory schemes, including those promulgated and enforced by the FTC, FCC, FDA and others.

Appendices providing a legal glossary, a chart of the judicial system, sample model releases and copyright agreement forms.


The volume is developed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in media, advertising and public relations law or regulation courses. It also serves as an essential reference for advertising and public relations practitioners.