United States, et al. v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc.

Decided May 22, 2000. Anthony McLeod Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court.

Docket 98-1682 · 529 U.S. 803 (2000) · Cited 958 times

Holding

Because the Government failed to prove § 505 is the least restrictive means for addressing a real problem, the District Court did not err in holding the statute violative of the First Amendment.

The Court’s statement of the holding, from the opinion’s syllabus. The syllabus is prepared by the Reporter of Decisions and is not part of the opinion of the Court — read the official opinion for authority.

How the Justices voted

Decided 5–4.

“Concurring” means agreeing with the outcome; any split shown is the Court’s judgment, not each Justice’s reasoning. Source: the Supreme Court Database (Spaeth et al.), Washington University.

Precedents cited

Supreme Court decisions this opinion relies on, ordered by how often it cites each. Cases in our collection link through; others are named.

• Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union · 521 U.S. 844 (1997)
• Ginzburg v. United States · 383 U.S. 463 (1966)
• Miller v. California · 413 U.S. 15 (1973)
• Sable Communications of California, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission · 492 U.S. 115 (1989)
• Denver Area Educational Telecommunications Consortium, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission · 518 U.S. 727 (1996)
• Ginsberg v. New York · 390 U.S. 629 (1968)
• Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc. · 425 U.S. 748 (1976)
• FW/PBS, Inc. v. City of Dallas · 493 U.S. 215 (1990)
• City of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc. · 475 U.S. 41 (1986)
• Federal Communications Commission v. Pacifica Foundation · 438 U.S. 726 (1978)
• Butler v. Michigan · 352 U.S. 380 (1957)
• Speiser v. Randall · 357 U.S. 513 (1958)
• Young v. American Mini Theatres, Inc. · 427 U.S. 50 (1976)
• Boos v. Barry · 485 U.S. 312 (1988)
• Bolger v. Youngs Drug Products Corp. · 463 U.S. 60 (1983)
• Illinois State Board of Elections v. Socialist Workers Party · 440 U.S. 173 (1979)
• Ward v. Rock Against Racism · 491 U.S. 781 (1989)
• Roth v. United States · 354 U.S. 476 (1957)
• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District · 393 U.S. 503 (1969)
• Hamling v. United States · 418 U.S. 87 (1974)
• Prince v. Massachusetts · 321 U.S. 158 (1944)
• New York v. Ferber · 458 U.S. 747 (1982)
• R. A. v. v. City of St. Paul · 505 U.S. 377 (1992)
• Clark v. Community for Creative Non-Violence · 468 U.S. 288 (1984)
• Cohen v. California · 403 U.S. 15 (1971)
• Jacobellis v. Ohio · 378 U.S. 184 (1964)
• Board of Trustees of State Univ. of NY v. Fox · 492 U.S. 469 (1989)
• Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville · 422 U.S. 205 (1975)
• Edenfield v. Fane · 507 U.S. 761 (1993)
• Rowan v. United States Post Office Department · 397 U.S. 728 (1970)

Cited by

Later Supreme Court opinions in our collection that cite this case.

• Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton · 606 U.S. 461 (2025)
• Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union · 542 U.S. 656 (2004)
• Brown v. Entertainment Merchants Assn. · 564 U.S. 786 (2011)
• McCutcheon v. Federal Election Comm'n · 572 U.S. 185 (2014)
• Lorillard Tobacco Co. v. Reilly · 533 U.S. 525 (2001)
• Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission · 558 U.S. 310 (2010)
• Hill v. Colorado · 530 U.S. 703 (2000)
• Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition · 535 U.S. 234 (2002)
• New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen · 597 U.S. 1 (2022)
• United States v. Stevens · 559 U.S. 460 (2010)
• McConnell v. Federal Election Commission · 540 U.S. 93 (2003)
• Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York, Inc. v. Village of Stratton · 536 U.S. 150 (2002)
• United States v. American Library Assn., Inc. · 539 U.S. 194 (2003)
• City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, LLC · 596 U.S. 61 (2022)
• United States v. Alvarez · 567 U.S. 709 (2012)
• Republican Party of Minnesota v. White · 536 U.S. 765 (2002)
• City of Los Angeles v. Alameda Books, Inc. · 535 U.S. 425 (2002)
• Bartnicki v. Vopper · 532 U.S. 514 (2001)
• National Institute of Family and Life Advocates v. Becerra · 585 U.S. 755 (2018)
• Federal Election Commission v. Colorado Republican Federal Campaign Committee · 533 U.S. 431 (2001)
• Ysursa v. Pocatello Education Ass'n · 555 U.S. 353 (2009)
• Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm'n · 584 U.S. 617 (2018)

Official text

Read the official opinion (U.S. Reports, govinfo.gov)

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Anthony McLeod Kennedy’s profile · All Supreme Court opinions · The Supreme Court

Source: Supreme Court of the United States, slip opinions (2000). Citation count from the Free Law Project’s CourtListener bulk data. Data last verified 2026-07-03. Informational only; verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).