Freedman v. Maryland, 380 U.S. 51 (1965), was a United States Supreme Court case that ended government-operated rating boards with a decision that a rating board could only approve a film and had no power to ban a film. The ruling also concluded that a rating board must either approve a film within a reasonable time, or go to court to stop a film from being shown in theatres. Other court cases determined that television stations are federally licensed, so local rating boards have no jurisdiction over films shown on television. When the movie industry set up its own rating system—the Motion Picture Association of America—most state and local boards ceased operating. Background Ronald Freedman challenged the law of Maryland that films must be submitted to the Maryland State Board of Censors before being shown in theaters, claiming it unconstitutional; violating freedom of expression granted by the First Amendment. Opinion of the Court In a unanimous opinion by Justice Brennan, the Court held that a rating board could only approve a film and had no power to ban a film. See also Film censorship in the United States Production Code Joseph Burstyn, Inc v. Wilson References Further reading External links United States Supreme Court cases United States Supreme Court cases of the Warren Court United States Free Speech Clause case law United States obscenity case law 1965 in United States case law Film censorship in the United States Legal history of Maryland