Legal System and Ethics in Publishing Studies

Abstract

In this article, the author tries to review studies on the legal system and ethics in publishing in the 1990s in Japan. Due to limitations of scope and space, it is difficult to reflect here on such studies in the 1990s. Consequently, this article covers only studies that the author decided are indicative in this field, including freedom of expression, foreign legal systems, differential and sexual expressions, legal history, etc. The field of the legal system and ethics in media studies has been divided into two fields, namely, mass media law (or speech law) and information law. These studies contribute to reconsideration of the values and limitations of freedom of expression in connection with the development of new information and communication technologies. Therefore, these studies are not restricted to publishing studies.