The justices heard an hour of debate about scope and intent of decade-old statute . Statute supporters say it helps stop profiting from the torture and abuse of animals . I mean , David Roma 's documentary had much , much more footage on the actual animal cruelty than the films at issue here , greater sections of the film , and more explicit , '' she said . Media groups argue that animal rights activists are using the law to make a profit off their work, which is protected by free speech laws. Case is first prosecution in the United States to go to trial under the 1999 law .
The justices heard an hour of debate about scope and intent of decade-old statute . Statute supporters say it helps stop profiting from the torture and abuse of animals . Media groups argue that animal rights activists are using the law to make a profit off their work, which is protected by free speech laws. Case is first prosecution in the United States to go to trial under the 1999 law .