Fake Protest Part Deux by Sheila Dee
Flash mobs are groups “who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment, satire, & artistic expression.” Flash mob law is a combination of criminal, property, tort, intellectual property, First Amendment, & entertainment law. Flash mob organizers need to be mindful of the legal implications of their events, because planning a flash mob can be grounds for criminal charges if any aspect of the event is illegal.
We have researched the legalities of flash mobs since 2009. We provide consultation to individuals & groups who organize flash mobs to ensure that they are planned & performed legally.
We also perform legal consultation for groups who perform “smart mobs” – flash mob-like performances that promote a business or event. These events have the same legal implications of flash mobs except that a flawed smart mob could have disastrous implications for the entity being promoted. It’s critical that smart mob organizers have legal advice every step of the way.
I did a mini lecture about the basics of flash mob law at the American Bar Association TechShow in March 2012 as part of the LexThink.1 event. Enjoy the video of my talk.
