ABSTRACT
The intellectual and philosophical climate of the 17th and 18th centuries provided ideal conditions for growth of faith in natural rights. The individual was thought to be a rational being, one who could listen to all arguments, weigh the merits, and, through the power of reason, make an intelligent choice. Most legal scholars agree that freedom of speech does not allow somebody to shout “Fire” in a crowded theater. Defamation is communication that harms a person’s reputation or damages a person’s standing in the community. Defamation consists of two categories, libel and slander. When a defamation occurs on a broadcast station, the licensee is liable for damages, no matter when it occurs, who said it, or who supplied it. Most commercial radio stations depend on music for programming. Almost all music is copyrighted.
