Budapest / Online, 8 November 2022
On November 8th, the Institute for Advanced Studies (IAS) of the Central European University hosted the roundtable ‘Judging Jests: Humor, Free Speech and the Law’. The event was organized in …
2 November 2022
The article ‘Laughing Matters: Humor, Free Speech and Hate Speech at the European Court of Human Rights’ (by Alberto Godioli, Jennifer Young and Matteo Fiori) has just been published by the International Journal for the Semiotics of …
Mode of expression: Photomontage and captions
Publication: Facebook
Region: Europe (France)
Relevant dates: October 2013 (publication); September 2016 (decision)
Outcome: Suspended fine of 3000 EUR
Judicial body: Paris Criminal Court
Type of law: Criminal Law
Themes:…
Mode of expression: Press cartoon and TV
Publication: Charlie Hebdo / TV show in France 2: On n’est pas couché
Region: Europe (France)
Relevant dates: 4 and 7 January 2012 (publication); 25 October 2019 (final decision)
Outcome: Acquittal
Judicial body:…
Mode of expression: Press cartoon
Publication: Charlie Hebdo
Region: Europe (France)
Relevant dates: 7 October 2015 (publication), 19 February 2019 (final decision)
Outcome: Acquittal
Judicial body: Court of Cassation
Type of law: Criminal Law
Themes: Ableism / Hate Speech / …
Mode of expression: Press cartoons
Publication: Charlie Hebdo
Region: Europe (France)
Relevant dates: 8 February 2006 (publication); 22 March 2008 (final decision)
Outcome: Acquittal
Judicial body: Paris Court of Appeal
Type of law: Criminal Law
Themes: Incitement to hatred / …
Mode of expression: Trademark parody
Publication: T-shirt sold online
Region: South Africa
Relevant dates: 2001 (creation of disputed T-shirt); May 2005 (ruling)
Outcome: Constitutional Court overturns the injunction against Laugh It Off
Judicial body: Constitutional Court of South Africa
Type …
Mode of expression: Comic book
Publication: Calendar
Region: Europe (Belgium)
Relevant dates:
Date of publication: January 9, 2011
Date of Final outcome: September 3, 2014
Outcome: Recommended for Decision in Accordance with Ruling
Judicial body: Court of Justice of …
Mode of expression: photograph with edited elements
Publication: magazine
Region: United States, North America
Relevant dates: August 1991 (publication of Vanity Fair cover); early 1994 (publication of parodic poster); 19 February 1998 (outcome)
Outcome: Motion denied (fair use granted)
Judicial …
Mode of expression: Caricature
Publication: Singlesheet print, etching
Region: London, England (United Kingdom)
Relevant dates: 1803 (publication)
Outcome: Not applicable
Judicial body: not applicable
Type of law: Seditious libel; defamation; copyright; intellectual property
Themes: Satire, parody
The …