The Big Question

Not all bloggers are journalists, but some bloggers are "without question" journalists, at least according to what's thought to be the first court ruling on the issue, according to the Coalition of Journalists for Open Government. The MTF grantee reports that Federal Judge Henry M. Herlong Jr. "dismissed a trademark violation lawsuit against the blogger, noting that the Lanham Act exempts 'all forms of news reporting and news commentary.' " The judge believed the blogger's article about an auction listings company that sold items on eBay was "clearly journalism, based on both a functional analysis and an examination of blogger's intent."

For more analysis and to see the ruling, visit CJOG at www.cjog.net.