Giving him the sniffles 2-5

[Ralen]

Now that brings up an interesting point. Does the right to free speech and press include the right to lie?

I believe the word here is "fiction." It's a fantasy. If it were being portrayed on the news or in court as fact, that's something completely different. Movies are not real, and (reasonable) people do not take them seriously. Furthermore, in order to be considered libel or slander, the person speaking/writing has to *know* that what he or she is saying is false. I'd be willing to bet that people like Moore/anonymouse director actually believe what they're saying.

Does he have a right to the labor and sweat of people whom he decieved? To their words and images?

Absolutely. They agreed to be in/work on his movie, signed a legal document solidifying that agreement, therefore he has the right to use their talents and images in any way he sees fit, as per their agreement. Again, the moral of the story is to know what you're getting yourself into beforehand.

[Jwrebholz]

If I said "I think Ralph is really a liberal scumbag" that would be an opinion. It would be incorrect, but it would be an opinion.

If I said "Ralph forged tax documents and contributed thousands to MoveOn.org," that would be libel because I'm stating it as a fact when it's not true. Libel is a printed false statement that is portrayed as fact. Lying in court is perjury, not libel or slander.

[Ralen]

If I said "Ralph forged tax documents and contributed thousands to MoveOn.org," that would be libel

Yes, but if you were to write a fictional short story about how Ralph was involved in a illegal affairs, it would be none of the above, since it's fiction. Granted you might be sued for using his personal image without permission. Now take it a step further, and write a short story about how Half Rayes gets involved in illegal affairs, and you're completely in the clear. You may be a jerk, but it's still protected speech. That's what this movie is, it's a fictional story about fictional government officials. The fact that it has a political bias doesn't make it slanderous.

[IronFox]

If I said "Ralph forged tax documents and contributed thousands to MoveOn.org," that would be libel

Yes, but if you were to write a fictional short story about how Ralph was involved in a illegal affairs, it would be none of the above, since it's fiction. Granted you might be sued for using his personal image without permission. Now take it a step further, and write a short story about how Half Rayes gets involved in illegal affairs, and you're completely in the clear. You may be a jerk, but it's still protected speech. That's what this movie is, it's a fictional story about fictional government officials. The fact that it has a political bias doesn't make it slanderous.

The thing is that most fictional stories can have factual elements, and often falsehoods can be presented as factual (For example, Moore's claim that the NRA and KKK often overlap in ideology). It is at that point that it becomes slander/libel. Furthermore, you could sue for "Defamation of Character", particularly if the images represented are expecially repugnant and insulting.

[Squirrelly61104]

Oh noes!!
WMDs!!!
(Weapons of Munchkin Disease)
Okay, I know I'm behind the track on the forum (just glad no one seems to have beat me to the pun) but regarding the argument over censorship, two points.
1) we still don't know what had Nip chuckling over in the contract. Maybe a 'creative input' clause? Maybe a sanity clause? (oh, wait. this is hollywood. there is no sanity clause.)
2) Nip, Tuck, et al, are not censoring tubbo in any way, shape, or form. He will still have all his original film footage. He will still be able to present his vision to his backers. Considering he's the only big 'name' attached to the movie, his offering will have a lot of weight behind it.
(okay, i'll try to thin out the puns)
On the other hand, having seen the usual results of self proclaimed geniuses when they get a butt-load of money and no supervision, my nephew could probably put out a more commercially palatable movie than lados version.
And he hasn't turned three yet!

[Tbolt]

Oh noes!!
WMDs!!!
(Weapons of Munchkin Disease)

Oy! please don't remind me!

I gotta work with 3000+ of the little disease bearers, I've been ill for the past 5 days!

[SolidusRaccoon]

Payback is a dish best served cold.