Dev.SN

It's OK To Parody the NSA!

posted by Dopefish on Thursday February 20 2014, @08:00AM   
from the tell-me-it's-true dept.

Gaaark writes:

"The First Amendment has been upheld in the United States!

Dan McCall has been making T-shirts and mugs that parody the National Security Agency as "the only part of government that actually listens" for over a decade. In 2011, he got a cease-and-desist letter from the NSA and from the Department of Homeland Security. Last October, McCall filed a lawsuit saying his shirts and mugs parodied the government agency and were therefore protected by the First Amendment.

'Citizens shouldn't have to worry whether criticizing government agencies will get them in trouble or not,' said Public Citizen's Paul Levy, who filed the suit on McCall's behalf. 'This settlement proves the First Amendment is there to protect citizens' rights to free speech.'

Now, the NSA has admitted: McCall is right ."

• Precedent? (Score: 2, Insightful) by rumata on Thursday February 20 2014, @08:35PM

  by rumata (2034) on Thursday February 20 2014, @08:35PM (#3910)

  Well, skimming the actual settlement agreement I don't see this as a big victory for freedom of speech. The first few sections go on about how the NSA and DHS don't admit to any wrong-doing/liability whatsoever, then there is a bunch of obligations on the plaintiff to not bring this up again in any way shape or form.
  By agreeing to all of this, the plaintiff gets 500 bucks and special dispensation for his particular case, no compensation for lost income (cease-and-desist was in 2011).

  I don't think this would set a precedent for the next guy (ianal).

  Cheers,
  Michael

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