WASHINGTON D.C. - Citizen groups across the country, joined by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), applauded the Supreme Court's refusal to consider Nike's "right to lie" claim (i.e. the claim that free speech protections extend to corporate public relations and advertising). In doing so, the Court sends the case back to the California court, which previously ruled that the speech in Nike's public relations campaign was commercial and therefore subject to state consumer protection laws that demand truth-in-advertising.

"We applaud the Court for refusing to take on the merits of Nike's attempt to use the Constitution to block truth-in-advertising laws," said Charlie Cray, director of Citizen Works' Campaign for Corporate Reform. "Corporations should not be allowed to use spurious claims to Constitutional rights to circumvent consumer protection laws."

"Today is a victory for consumer protection, corporate accountability, and the integrity of the US Constitution," added Rep. Kucinich, who was one of four Congressmen to submit an amicus brief in support of Marc Kasky. "The dismissal makes clear that the Supreme Court will not aid large corporations like Nike in their attempts to flout state consumer protection laws and then head for cover under the First Amendment. In the future we must continue to vigilantly protect against corporations that attempt to abuse fundamental Constitutional rights intended to protect the rights of real people, not corporations."

"It's a relief to hear that the Court is not prepared to consider what would be extreme judicial activism on behalf of corporate America and against U.S. citizens by creating a corporate right to lie," said Jeff Milchen, Director of ReclaimDemocracy.org, which is party to an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in this case.

"Law abiding businesses should be pleased as well. If business hopes to regain the dwindling trust of citizens, demanding a right to lie is hardly the way to do it."

For full background on the case, including today's opinion, dissent, and concurrence, can be found at http://ReclaimDemocracy.org/nike

Contacts:

Lee Drutman, Citizen Works, 202-265-6164

Jeff Milchen, ReclaimDemocracy.org, 406-582-1224

Doug Gordon, Rep. Kucinich's office, 202-225-5871

Public Citizen also put out a press release: "Supreme Court’s Nike Decision is Right for Consumers"