Media Coalition Secures Victories in Massachusetts and Hawaii

Last week, Media Coalition's efforts paid off in two states when legislatures in Hawaii and Massachusetts secured First Amendment protections for travel guidebooks and websites and halted efforts to restricted Internet speech.

In Hawaii, H.B. 548 died in the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Labor. Media Coalition opposed H.B. 548 with written testimony at each hearing the proposal received in the House and Senate. Bookselling this Week and Publishers Weekly have coverage.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed into law an amendment to a 2010 law that prompted a challenge by Media Coalition members, local booksellers, and others. The amendment is a direct response to the preliminary injunction granted by U.S. District Judge Rya Zobel in October and effectively ends the legal challenge to the law. Ars Technica and Bookselling this Week have coverage.

updated 4/20/11