Los Angeles Moratorium on Billboards Upheld

In move that will likely effect offsite advertising across the country, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Los Angeles’ 2002 ban on most new billboards, overturning a lower court’s decision that it violated advertisers’ First Amendment rights. The injunction specifically targets product signage being placed on buildings or spaces where that product is not sold, effectively eliminating advertisers from purchasing any new real estate and further cluttering the skyline.  

The most recent challenge came from Metro Lights LLC, who claimed these regulations were unjust, given that Los Angeles continues to sell advertising on all city owned properties such as bus shelters.  The company felt this created a monopoly on the city’s landscape, setting up an unfair situation where space could only be purchased by the “highest bidder.”  Despite this victory, more lawsuits are likely to follow by an industry with the money and wherewithal to fight these restrictions every step of the way.  In light of this, Los Angeles is working to rewrite the language of the law so that it can withstand further opposition on these grounds.  

[via Laist]