Disney Takes on FCC in Retaliatory Campaign Lawsuit
The Walt Disney Company has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over what it claims is a retaliatory campaign against ABC, its broadcast network. The FCC's chairman, Brendan Carr, was appointed by President Donald Trump and has been accused of distorting the agency's regulatory authority to punish speech and media organizations that the president dislikes.
The lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, alleges that the FCC demanded an early review of Disney-owned ABC's broadcast licenses, citing vague 'public interest' criteria. However, documents obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request revealed coordination between Carr and the White House, as well as regular interactions with conservative media power brokers.
The move comes after several media companies, including CBS and NBC, settled lawsuits or made donations to Trump's ballroom project in an effort to appease him. Disney's new CEO, Josh D'Amaro, was not involved in the decision to file the lawsuit, which has been praised by both liberal and conservative quarters.
The lawsuit marks a significant shift for Disney, which has long been known for its aggressive defense of its intellectual property and corporate interests. However, with Trump's social media bluster potentially outweighing his bite, the company may be making a prudent business decision in challenging the administration in court.