Printer Friendly Version Multimedia Law
The purpose of this guide is to help you research multimedia law cases and topics. If you have difficulty finding enough information on your topic, be sure to ask a reference librarian for help.
All online resources in this guide are found in the Research Databases pages unless otherwise indicated.
Dictionaries | Encyclopedias | LEO Library Catalog | Finding Cases | Explaining Your Case | Internet Resources
Dictionaries
A few legal dictionaries that may help you decipher and use legal jargon.
Black's Law Dictionary (REF KF156 .B53 1999)
The best general legal dictionary in publication.
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary of Law
Good, online dictionary for non-lawyers. Part of FindLaw (see Internet Resources, below).
Encyclopedias & Other Reference Works
When a simple definition is not enough. Excellent sources for explanations of laws and cases, biographies and history.
Corpus Juris Secundum (REF KF154 C65)
Comprehensive entries, alphabetically arranged and extensively footnoted, relate points of law pertaining to each subject. Cited as CJS.
Lindey on Entertainment, Publishing and the Arts (REF KF2992 .L5 2004)
Collection of laws, cases, and interpretations about entertainment contract law. Updated quarterly.
United States Code (REF KF62 and online through LexisNexis Academic)
The laws of the United States. The full text of the Code is available on LexisNexis Academic, but the print may be easier to browse.
West’s Encyclopedia of American Law (REF KF154 .W47 2005)
Excellent legal resource for non-attorneys.
LEO Library Catalog
Use LEO to find books, encyclopedias, videos, government documents, etc. in the JMU Libraries’ collections. Some suggested subject headings include:
|
|
Finding Cases
You will need to become familiar with finding court cases on the area of multimedia law you are researching for your class projects. Most reported cases can now be found online through LexisNexis, but the print “reporters” can also be helpful.
LexisNexis Legal Research [help with connectors like w/s; help with wildcards like !]
Includes full text state and federal court opinions. Before searching, be sure to select Federal & State Cases, in the right-hand menu.
Media Law Reporter (REF KF2750 A513)
Provides full-text, indexed coverage of all U.S. Supreme Court decisions and significant federal and state court and administrative agency decisions in the field of media law. A topical index can be found at the front of each volume.
United States Reports (REF KF 101 .U58)
Supreme Court opinions, arranged by date. These cases are all included in LexisNexis Academic.
Explaining Your Case: Law Review and News Articles
Once you find a case, you may need help in summarizing the legal points being addressed in the decision. Often a law review article will dedicate itself to explaining a single case. Sometimes you will find news stories on more prominent or very recent cases.
LexisNexis Legal Research [help with connectors like w/s; help with wildcards like !]
Includes full text law review and law news articles. This is the default Legal Research search. If you aren’t already there, select Law Reviews in the right-hand menu.
**Important Note about Printing: Some law review articles can exceed 200 pages in length!
Internet Resources
Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet! Rely on good lists of sources to help identify good sites!
Reputable source for finding legal resources freely available on the Internet.
Media Arts & Design Research Guide
Find news, research databases and more.
This page is maintained by: Jennifer Keach
Created for SMAD 330, Multimedia Law
Last reviewed:
October 2, 2007
