Lawyers and public relations professionals must work together on a united front. PR pros and lawyers are both highered to advocate effectively to publics. Lawyers are more likely to go with “No comment.” But as public relations people we want to go with a more open and honest front.
Companies need to know that legal and pr approaches are equally important especially when dealing with a crisis. An idea is just an idea until it is on a web page, photograph, a piece of music and then it can be copyrighted. If you are using someone’s content you need to credit the source, not taken it out of context and needs to be used education, research and not for making a profit.
For PR news releases must state the truth as it is known at the release. The U.S. postal service also stops people from mailing anything that would incite a riot, murder or an assassination.
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