Articles by Gill Sperlein

Corpus Juris: Checking Their Rep

Through most of its history, the adult entertainment industry was reluctant to seek the aid of the judicial system to resolve business disputes. There were exceptions. Playboy, with its air of pseudo-respectability, routinely litigated cases to protect its valuable trademarks, including its bunny logo. When Jerry Falwell won on an intentional infliction of emotional distress claim against Larry Flynt and Hustler magazine in district court, Larry Flynt returned fire appealing the ruling all the way to a successful conclusion at the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark decision.