Question

Explain the legal ramifications for Public Relations practitioner who represents clients in PR campaigns and the PR practitioner is sued for libel or defamation to another party.

Answer 1

The legal consequences for the public relation practitioner who represent the clients in PR campaigns are as follows :

First amendment protection laws

Because of social media, everyone can practice their freedom of speech from any place and time. If your client is about to say the wrong thing, you can save their reputation from being publically destroyed and even facing the charges.

Commercial speech

Commercial speech is used to make profit by advertising PR team should make sure that the advertisement does not violate any law because if the court finds that there is a violation in the first amendment, then they analyze the case against the Central Hudson test.

Defamation laws

Any written or verbal statement that harms anyone’s reputation is considered defamation and written defamation is called libel and verbal is called slander. Defamation is civil wrong rather than a crime. Companies whole public relation experts defame someone can be sued. Practitioners handling political campaigns and advertising campaigns are risked for defamation charges.

Intellectual property laws

it is the job of the PR practitioner always to save his client by learning the intellectual property laws such as trademark and copyright it protects their original work. PR should also take care of their trademark is not altered or distorted. Besides the intellectual property laws the PR professional should respect the privacy of the people especially in media interviews they arrange.