Freedom of Speech: Commercial

Freedom of Speech: Commercial

Do commercial organizations have free speech protections? Explore these landmark Supreme Court cases to find out how the court has interpreted this constitutional question.

Virginia Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council (1976)

A pharmacy had the First Amendment right to advertise prices. Read More.

Linmark v. Willingboro (1977)

A town prohibition on For Sale and Sold signs was unconstitutional. The ban was unreasonable restriction on the flow of commercial information. Read More.

United States v. United Foods (2001)

A law forcing cooperatives of mushroom growers to pay advertising fees was contrary to First Amendment principles as a form of compelled speech. Read More.

Thompson v. Western States Medical Center (2002)

The court voted to overturn the Food and Drug Administrations Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA), claiming it was a restriction on freedom of commercial speech because it put restrictions on compounded drugs. Read More.