Nike Appeal
Beaverton, Ore.-based footwear giant Nike has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a California Supreme Court ruling regarding the extent to which public corporate speech is protected under the First Amendment. The California ruling found that public corporate statements could be considered commercial speech and were therefore not protected by the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech. Nike is arguing that because statements made in op-ed and editorial stories and in letters to the editor are included under the ruling, the company is unable to address public issues related to its business. Nike announced, as a result of the ruling, that it will not publish its annual corporate responsibility report, which reviews the company’s efforts in labor law compliance, community affairs, sustainable development and workplace programs.
