Book company sues Imus for $4 million: FlatSigned Press said sales of its books flat-lined after U.S. radio personality Don Imus insulted them on his former show. The company, which paid for an ad on the Imus show, said sales took a dive after the shock jock slammed one of its books.
Editor settles copyright suit with Leno, NBC and others: – A humor editor who published books of jokes by Jay Leno and other comedians without their permission has apologized and agreed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.
What possible grounds for action?
The first story is too brief to really say much–but what possible grounds for action could a publisher have in this case, at least within the U.S.?
They paid for an ad on the show, therefore the host is forbidden from saying anything negative? Even if such a “pay to negate opinions” clause existed–which seems awfully unlikely–recovery would presumably be limited to the cost of the ad.
Don Imus said mean things about the book? Hmm. First Amendment. Published work; barring Imus knowingly lying about the book, essentially impossible to prove libel or slander; opinions are protected speech.
I must be missing something.