A Philadelphia appeals court threw out the $550,000 indecency fine levied on CBS in connection with Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" at the 2004 Super Bowl.Judges said in the court ruling that Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake are "independent contractors" and CBS cannot be held accountable for their actions.
The fine was levied by the Federal Communications Commission after one of Jackson's breasts was exposed briefly during a performance with Timberlake during halftime of the Super Bowl.
The judges also said it was impossible to determine how many complaints CBS received after the incident.
The FCC claimed the network received more than 542,000 complaints - an "unprecedented" number. CBS disputed that number, claiming that 85 percent of that number came from organized interest groups.
"The record is unclear on the actual number of complaints received from unorganized, individual viewers," the ruling said. "The FCC cannot impose liability on CBS for the acts of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake, independent contractors hired for the limited purposes of the halftime show."
