California Federal Court Finds that the First Amendment Does Not Preclude Sporting Event Participants from Asserting Right-Of-Publicity Claims

By Matthew Ganas, of DLA Piper LLP   On April 11, 2014, a California federal court issued a First Amendment ruling that has potentially significant implications for broadcasters in the sports-media industry. Specifically, the Northern District of California’s Judge Claudia Wilken held that “the First Amendment does not guarantee media organizations an unlimited right to broadcast entire college football and basketball games” “without regard for the participating athletes’ rights