FROM THE CHAIR
When I first came out of law school in 1985, I was subjected to both skepticism and some
criticism by partners at my then-law firm for bringing a MacIntosh computer to the office.
One partner who saw me working on the computer even pulled me aside to tell me, "you shouldn't be
typing in your office-people will think you're a secretary!"
Fourteen years later, it not only is commonplace for attorneys to have computers in
their offices, but those who don't have at least a PC-or in many circles, a laptop-are viewed
with skepticism and even scorn. There is no doubt about it; the technology age has changed the
way we practice law, and is slowly changing the law as well.
This issue of Communications Lawyer focuses on some of the interesting and innovative changes
in the law that media lawyers must anticipate in the advent of the Internet and new technologies.
Are the substantive rules changed for defamation and privacy plaintiffs when the publication is
instantaneously transmitted over the globe? Sheri Hunter's thoughtful article about the impact of
the Internet on defamation and privacy law explains what has happened, and what we can expect, as
courts struggle to apply old rules to a new publication environment. Another insightful piece by
Peter Hageman explores whether the distinctions among public officials, public figures, and
limited purpose public figures even make sense in the new Internet environment.
Do procedural safeguards that traditionally have existed in geographic contexts evaporate when the
bounds of publication no longer respect geographic boundaries? An article by David Tomlin grapples
with the impact of online publishing on personal jurisdiction in general, while Mark Stephens writes
about the chilling prospect that the jurisdictional reach of English courts will be expanded in the
online publishing environment. Last, but not least, Elizabeth McNamara, Jeff Blum, and Denise
Gough focus on the impact of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for online publishers..
For media practitioners who cannot get enough of Web sites and Internet issues, we are always
looking for volunteers to assist with the Forum's Web site. Jerry Birenz of Sabin,
Bermant & Gould (a.k.a. The Webmaster) is looking for lawyers to work on both design and content.
Contact him directly if you are interested in participating.
And mark your calendars for the Forum's next Annual Meeting, which will be held at the
Rancho Bernardo Inn, just north of San Diego, on February 18-19, 2000. Because this is a
holiday weekend, we urge you to make your reservations early for what is certain to be another
memorable and enlightening program. New members of the Governing Board will be elected at the
business portion of the meeting. Tom Kelley of Faegre & Benson, Steve Bookshester of the NAB,
and Guylyn Cummins of Gray Carey Ware & Freidenrich graciously have agreed to serve as a
Nominating Committee; if you have recommendations or suggestions to fill the four Governing
Board slots (to take effect August 2000), please contact any one of them directly.
