In the landmark case of New York Times v. Sullivan, decided in 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue of free speech and press under the First Amendment. The case arose when the New York Times published an advertisement that contained inaccuracies about the actions of public officials in Montgomery, Alabama. The Supreme Court ruled that for public officials to win a defamation lawsuit, they must prove that the statements were made with "actual malice," meaning the publisher knew the information was false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. This decision significantly strengthened protections for the press.