Marc Randazza
Encyclopedia
Marc J. Randazza is a First Amendment
attorney and the editor of the law blog The Legal Satyricon.
on November 26, 1969 and graduated from Gloucester High School
in 1987. Randazza attended the University of Massachusetts
, where he majored in Journalism. Randazza worked as a journalist and in advertising in Washington, D.C., Palermo, Rome, New York City, and Miami. In 1996, Randazza was inspired to attend law school by the film The People vs. Larry Flynt
. He attended Georgetown University Law Center, and graduated in 2000. During law school, he interned for Justice Denise Johnson of the Vermont Supreme Court
and for Rydin Carlsten Advokatbyrå, in Stockholm, Sweden. He continued his First Amendment education by attending the University of Florida
, where he earned a Master's degree in Communications, and studied under William F. Chamberlin, writing his thesis on vote pairing
, which was cited by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
when the brothers of that fraternity were accused of destroying their house and other misconduct. He then began practicing in Florida as a real estate attorney. He quickly returned to the First Amendment and media field, taking on representation of an adult bookstore in Fort Myers. Soon thereafter, he moved to Orlando, Florida where his practice in First Amendment and media law expanded. He started representing defendants in SLAPP suits, pornography
businesses, protestors, in often unpopular constitutional law matters.
In 2004, his University of Florida
thesis gained attention as vote pairing
became a minor issue during the 2004 election. Randazza was asked to debate the issue on Fox News, and thereafter has been a frequent legal commentator on television and in print. Randazza served as a professor of law at Barry University School of Law
, located in Orlando, Florida
. Where he taught First Amendment
law, copyright
law, trademark
law, and entertainment law.
Randazza has a practice that primarily focuses on the areas of First Amendment litigation, adult entertainment, trademark
and copyright
litigation, and domain name arbitration disputes. He serves as General Counsel to Corbin Fisher
, an adult media company. He has represented a number of well-known adult entertainment companies including Kink.com
, Bang Bus
, and Milf Hunter. He also represents media businesses such as BME
and bloggers in SLAPP suits.
Randazza has gained notoriety for his defense of the adult entertainment field and for handling high-profile free speech cases. He represented Anthony Ciolli, one of the administrators of AutoAdmit
in the high profile case regarding that website, securing his dismissal from that case. He has represented the defendant in Beck v. Eiland-Hall
, a case before the World Intellectual Property Organization
(WIPO) filed by political commentator Glenn Beck, concerning a satire website parodying Beck. The WIPO arbitrator ruled against Beck in the case, and in favor of Randazza's client. Citizen Media Law Project assistant director Sam Bayard said of the WIPO arbitrator's decision, "It's good to see that this WIPO arbitrator had no interest in allowing Beck to circumvent the guarantees of the U.S. Constitution." He went on to congratulate Randazza, "Congratulations to Marc for this big victory and for his innovative brief that not only won the case, but also brought 'spock ate my balls' into the legal lexicon."
Randazza runs the popular website Legal Satyricon, which remains one of the most popular legal blogs.
In February 2011 an article published on gay news blog 'Queerty' goes into the posibilty of suicide by teenagers who are subject to mass bittorrent lawsuits submitted by Randazza on behalf of his client, Liberty Media Holdings. (http://www.queerty.com/corbin-fisher-doesnt-care-about-the-thieving-little-shits-who-might-commit-suicide-if-outed-20110224/)
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
attorney and the editor of the law blog The Legal Satyricon.
Early life and education
Marc John Randazza was born in Gloucester, MassachusettsGloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester is a city on Cape Ann in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is part of Massachusetts' North Shore. The population was 28,789 at the 2010 U.S. Census...
on November 26, 1969 and graduated from Gloucester High School
Gloucester High School (Massachusetts)
Gloucester High School is a public four-year comprehensive secondary school with 1,351 students and 150 faculty and staff. It is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the Northeast Alliance of High Schools....
in 1987. Randazza attended the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
, where he majored in Journalism. Randazza worked as a journalist and in advertising in Washington, D.C., Palermo, Rome, New York City, and Miami. In 1996, Randazza was inspired to attend law school by the film The People vs. Larry Flynt
The People vs. Larry Flynt
The People vs. Larry Flynt is a 1996 American biographical drama film directed by Miloš Forman about the rise of pornographic magazine publisher and editor Larry Flynt, and his subsequent clash with the law. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, and Edward Norton.The film was written by...
. He attended Georgetown University Law Center, and graduated in 2000. During law school, he interned for Justice Denise Johnson of the Vermont Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
and for Rydin Carlsten Advokatbyrå, in Stockholm, Sweden. He continued his First Amendment education by attending the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, where he earned a Master's degree in Communications, and studied under William F. Chamberlin, writing his thesis on vote pairing
Vote pairing
Vote pairing is the method where a voter in one district agrees to vote tactically for a less-preferred candidate or party who has a greater chance of winning in their district, in exchange for a voter from another district voting tactically for the candidate the first voter prefers, because that...
, which was cited by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Law career
Randazza's first case was representing a fraternity at Boston UniversityBoston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
when the brothers of that fraternity were accused of destroying their house and other misconduct. He then began practicing in Florida as a real estate attorney. He quickly returned to the First Amendment and media field, taking on representation of an adult bookstore in Fort Myers. Soon thereafter, he moved to Orlando, Florida where his practice in First Amendment and media law expanded. He started representing defendants in SLAPP suits, pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
businesses, protestors, in often unpopular constitutional law matters.
In 2004, his University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
thesis gained attention as vote pairing
Vote pairing
Vote pairing is the method where a voter in one district agrees to vote tactically for a less-preferred candidate or party who has a greater chance of winning in their district, in exchange for a voter from another district voting tactically for the candidate the first voter prefers, because that...
became a minor issue during the 2004 election. Randazza was asked to debate the issue on Fox News, and thereafter has been a frequent legal commentator on television and in print. Randazza served as a professor of law at Barry University School of Law
Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law
The Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law law school located in Orlando, Florida. The school is an academic college of Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. Barry Law offers various programs for full-time and part-time students, including a three-year daytime program and a four-year extended...
, located in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
. Where he taught First Amendment
First Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
law, copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
law, trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
law, and entertainment law.
Randazza has a practice that primarily focuses on the areas of First Amendment litigation, adult entertainment, trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
and copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
litigation, and domain name arbitration disputes. He serves as General Counsel to Corbin Fisher
Corbin Fisher
Corbin Fisher is an American film studio with a focus in gay pornography, based in Las Vegas, NV. The studio maintains a website at CorbinFisher.com; other web properties of the company include AmateurCollegeMen.com, AmateurCollegeSex.com and ShopCorbinFisher.com...
, an adult media company. He has represented a number of well-known adult entertainment companies including Kink.com
Kink.com
Kink.com is a San Francisco-based internet pornography company that runs a group of websites devoted to catfighting, BDSM and related fetishes.-Hogtied:...
, Bang Bus
Bang Bus
Bang Bus is a reality porn website that is part of the Bang Bros network run by Kristopher Hinson and Penn Davis's company, Ox Ideas. The two are friends who attended school together. Greg Entner worked for the company as a scene director and camera operator and has appeared in most Bang Bus...
, and Milf Hunter. He also represents media businesses such as BME
BME (website)
Body Modification Ezine is an online magazine devoted to body modification, noted for its coverage of the extreme and fringes of body modification and erotic body play....
and bloggers in SLAPP suits.
Randazza has gained notoriety for his defense of the adult entertainment field and for handling high-profile free speech cases. He represented Anthony Ciolli, one of the administrators of AutoAdmit
AutoAdmit
AutoAdmit, also known as Xoxohth, is a network of websites for prospective and current college, graduate, law students, and lawyers most notorious for its largely unmoderated message board. Its law school message board is now the only active section...
in the high profile case regarding that website, securing his dismissal from that case. He has represented the defendant in Beck v. Eiland-Hall
Beck v. Eiland-Hall
Beck v. Eiland-Hall is a case filed before the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2009 by political commentator Glenn Beck, concerning the satirical website "GlennBeckRapedAndMurderedAYoungGirlIn1990.com". The site was created by Isaac Eiland-Hall as a parody of Beck's style of commentary...
, a case before the World Intellectual Property Organization
World Intellectual Property Organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization is one of the 17 specialized agencies of the United Nations. WIPO was created in 1967 "to encourage creative activity, to promote the protection of intellectual property throughout the world"....
(WIPO) filed by political commentator Glenn Beck, concerning a satire website parodying Beck. The WIPO arbitrator ruled against Beck in the case, and in favor of Randazza's client. Citizen Media Law Project assistant director Sam Bayard said of the WIPO arbitrator's decision, "It's good to see that this WIPO arbitrator had no interest in allowing Beck to circumvent the guarantees of the U.S. Constitution." He went on to congratulate Randazza, "Congratulations to Marc for this big victory and for his innovative brief that not only won the case, but also brought 'spock ate my balls' into the legal lexicon."
Randazza runs the popular website Legal Satyricon, which remains one of the most popular legal blogs.
In February 2011 an article published on gay news blog 'Queerty' goes into the posibilty of suicide by teenagers who are subject to mass bittorrent lawsuits submitted by Randazza on behalf of his client, Liberty Media Holdings. (http://www.queerty.com/corbin-fisher-doesnt-care-about-the-thieving-little-shits-who-might-commit-suicide-if-outed-20110224/)
Selected legal commentary in the mass media
| Date* | Topic | Print/broadcast entity |
|---|---|---|
| September 30, 2006 | Violent video games and the First Amendment | Fox News |
| January 16, 2007 | Online gambling Online gambling Online gambling, also known as Internet gambling and iGambling, is a general term for gambling using the Internet.-Online poker:Online poker tables commonly offer Texas hold 'em, Omaha, Seven-card stud, razz, HORSE and other game types in both tournament and ring game structures... |
CNBC CNBC CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers... |
| April 10, 2007 | Don Imus's Rutgers women's basketball controversy | Fox News Channel Fox News Channel Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation... |
| June 7, 2007 | The f-bomb Fuck "Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,... |
Orlando Weekly Orlando Weekly The Orlando Weekly is an alternative newsweekly distributed in the Greater Orlando area of Florida. It features local news, views, arts, entertainment, local music coverage, an events calendar and classifieds... |
| July 1, 2008 | Bauer v. Wikimedia defamation case, and Section 230 | WABC WABC WABC may refer to:* WABC , a radio station licensed to New York, New York, United States* WABC-TV, a television station licensed to New York, New York, United States* Classic Gold WABC, a defunct British radio station... New York |
| August 7, 2008 | United States vs. Karen Fletcher (2006) | PC World PC World (magazine) PC World is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal-technology products and services... |
| January 15, 2009 | Natalie Dylan controversy | Fox News |
| March 3, 2009 | The Auto Admit Case AutoAdmit AutoAdmit, also known as Xoxohth, is a network of websites for prospective and current college, graduate, law students, and lawyers most notorious for its largely unmoderated message board. Its law school message board is now the only active section... |
National Public Radio |
| * Nonexhaustive list | ||
Published works
| Year | Article | Magazine / Journal |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | "The Constitutionality of Online Vote Swapping" | 34 Loyola of Los Angeles Law Review 1297 |
| "Breaking Duverger's Law is not Illegal: Strategic Voting, the Internet and the 2000 Presidential Election" | 2001 UCLA Journal of Law and Technology 6 | |
| 2002 | "Getting to Yes With Terrorists" | 2002 Michigan State University Law Review 823 |
| 2003 | "Cats Are Cats and Dogs Are Dogs But Neither is a Fish or a Bird (the Prisco Decision)" | 25 Actionline 4 |
| "Copyright and the Clubhouse" | November 2003 Condo Management | |
| "Copyright Issues for Free Fall Photographers" | October 2003 Skydiving Magazine Skydiving Magazine Skydiving Magazine is an independent, monthly newsmagazine covering the events, equipment, techniques, people and places of sport parachuting. It is based in DeLand, Florida, and has been published continuously since 1979.... |
|
| "Character Counts: Defamation Law for Community Associations" | January 2003 Community Update | |
| 2004 | "The Other Election Controversy of Y2K: Core First Amendment Values and High-Tech Political Coalitions" | 82 Washington University Law Quarterly 143 |
| 2005 | "Republicans Save US Jobs" | May 2005 XBIZ XBIZ XBIZ is an American publisher of business news and business information for the adult entertainment industry.In addition to its flagship website, XBIZ publishes two monthly trade magazines, hosts winter and summer exhibition & industry conferences, and facilitates networking among adult online... |
| "Foreign Content and Section 2257" | June 2005 XBIZ XBIZ XBIZ is an American publisher of business news and business information for the adult entertainment industry.In addition to its flagship website, XBIZ publishes two monthly trade magazines, hosts winter and summer exhibition & industry conferences, and facilitates networking among adult online... |
|
| "2257 Regs a Boon to Patriotic Porn Producers" | June 2005 Adult Video News | |
| "Condo Casino! Gambling in Florida Community Associations" | 79 Florida Bar Journal 8 | |
| 2006 | "The Florida Supreme Court Dulls the Edge of Rule 1.420(e)" | 80 Florida Bar Journal 39 |
| 2007 | "Gambling in America’s Senior Communities" (Daniel Russell, co-author) | 8 Marquette Elder Law Advisor 343 |
See also
- A moron in a hurryA moron in a hurry"A moron in a hurry" is a hypothetical person against whom a claimant's concern might be judged in an English law civil action for passing off or trademark infringement. The expression is used to reject a claim that two items could reasonably be confused by a passer-by "A moron in a hurry" is a...
- Beck v. Eiland-HallBeck v. Eiland-HallBeck v. Eiland-Hall is a case filed before the World Intellectual Property Organization in 2009 by political commentator Glenn Beck, concerning the satirical website "GlennBeckRapedAndMurderedAYoungGirlIn1990.com". The site was created by Isaac Eiland-Hall as a parody of Beck's style of commentary...
- Cyberlaw
- Legal ethicsLegal ethicsLegal ethics encompasses an ethical code governing the conduct of persons engaged in the practice of law and persons more generally in the legal sector.-In the United States:...
- Vote swapping