Media and network law

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students acquire the knowledge and legal tools to understand and operate within the world of media.

The course focuses on the study of the discipline that regulates traditional media (press, radio and television and telecommunications), new media (network rights and online rights), entertainment (cinema and theatre), without forgetting some notes on the discipline of advertising and the evolution of copyright law.

Course contents

The course is divided into 4 parts.

Part I – Traditional media
In this part we will study the historical notes and essential features of the means of mass communication: the press, radio and television and telecommunications (i.e., in the current term, the means of electronic communication).
Part II – Internet, new media and the system of rights
In this second part we intend to analyze the most recent issues that legal systems are facing in the digital media market.
Part III – Copyright and new media
In this part we will study the essential features of copyright law, with particular attention to the protection of figurative, photographic, cinematographic, audiovisual and television works.
Part IV – The freedom of culture and artistic expression – The Entertainment
In this the constitutional rules on which the freedom of art and culture are based will be examined. Next, we will analyze the limits to these freedoms, and in particular the relationship between creativity and obsceneness.
Furthermore, the essential profiles will be treated of the legal regulations relating to the sectors of cinema, theater and live entertainment and the system of direct and indirect intervention of public institutions in support of these sectors, with particular attention to the "Fondo Nazionale per il Cinema e l’Audiovisivo and to the Fondo Unico per lo Spettacolo".

Reading/Bibliography

G. Gardini, Le regole dell'informazione. Verso la Gigabit Society, 5th edition, Giappichelli, ed. 2024, chapters 5, 6, 7, 8 and 12 only.

Further in-depth articles, also in English, will be distributed in class.
We also recommend reading some of the laws and rulings illustrated in the course of the lectures.

We also recommend reading some laws and sentences illustrated during the lessons.

Teaching methods

The course is taught in frontal lessons.

Assessment methods

The examination is written and covers the course topics covered in class.