MSG revives legal theory that once haunted '60 Minutes' - Freedom of the Press Foundation
freedom.press
MSG is wielding a legal theory so feared it once nearly silenced 60 Minutes — now aimed at Wired magazine three decades later.
Chilling Effect DoctrineLibel LawPrincipal-Agent ProblemStrategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP)
Theory Briefing
- Madison Square Garden is suing Wired using a legal theory that CBS's own lawyers dreaded when it threatened 60 Minutes in the 1990s.
- The theory's revival after 30 years raises the question of whether old, dormant legal weapons can be repurposed to pressure modern investigative outlets.
- Press freedom advocates warn that if MSG succeeds, the precedent could chill reporting on powerful institutions well beyond this single case.