Clear Channel sues Stern distributor

[devilgrrl]

Clear Channel sues Stern distributor

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July 21, 2004  |  New York -- Clear Channel Communications Inc. sued the distributor of Howard Stern's radio show for more than $3 million Wednesday, claiming Stern broke their contract by violating federal indecency regulations.

The lawsuit came in response to a $10 million suit filed last month by Stern and distributor Infinity Broadcasting Corp. after Clear Channel dropped the shock jock from six markets.

Clear Channel dropped Stern from the markets, including San Diego and Pittsburgh, after complaints from federal regulators. Stern's law often features sexually explicit remarks and off-color humor.

Clear Channel said in its countersuit that its contract with Infinity and Stern required the show to comply with federal law and Federal Communications Commission decency requirements.

more> http://www.salon.com/ent/wire/2004/07/21/clear_channel/index.html

[aquart]

1. What part of "shock jock" didn't they understand?

Hope the judge laughs it out of court.

[Kagemusha]

2. These regulations are *retroactive*.

Making Stern's distro pay $3 mil for failing to adhere to regulations that did not, at the time, exist, is so constitutionally offensive that it'll get thrown out fast.

And quite possibly set a precedent for generations to come.