Court Overturns Nudity Fine

A federal appeals court has struck down a penalty imposed on ABC by the FCC in 2003. The $27,500 fine was originally charged after an episode of cop drama NYPD Blue contained a brief shot of a woman's nude buttocks.

According to the Associated Press, the 2nd US Court of Appeals has now ruled that since television stations are not fined for "fleeting, unscripted profanities" in live broadcasts, the brief nudity should not have resulted in a penalty.

However, the Parents Television Council has since slammed the ruling, arguing that there was "absolutely nothing fleeting or accidental about [the scene]".

"ABC intentionally chose to air a scripted visual depiction of a fully-naked woman before 10pm," it said in a statement. "The inclusion of the lengthy and ogling scene was intended to pander and titillate."

The FCC previously claimed that the scene "dwelled" on the nudity of actress Charlotte Ross and was "shocking and titillating".