About This Episode
Can revealing a plot twist get you sued? Inspired by the controversy surrounding HBO’s Lanterns, Eugene Volokh and Jane Bamabuer explore the tension between copyright protection and free speech. From Gerald Ford’s memoirs to 2 Live Crew’s “Pretty Woman” parody, they examine how courts distinguish protected expression from facts and ideas—and when fair use permits borrowing from someone else’s work. Along the way, they consider why describing an ending differs from posting a clip, how unpublished leaks complicate the analysis, and when a spoiler might cross the line from bad manners to legal liability. Join our newsletter to be the first to listen the next episode: https://www.hoover.org/publications/free-speech-unmuted?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=description&utm_campaign=fsu_youtube&utm_content=09152026 __________ 🔔 Subscribe for more discussions: @HooverInstitution 👍 Like and share this video! 🌐 Follow us on social media: • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HooverInstStanford • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hoover-institution-at-stanford-university • Instagram: https://instagram.com/hooverinstitution • X: https://www.twitter.com/HooverInst The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University. © 2026 by the Board of Trustees of Leland Stanford Junior University.
Guests on This Episode
