Year: 2005

Musician Wins Privacy Claim

Mr Justice Eady today handed down judgment in the case of McKennitt v Ash [2005] EWHC 3003 (QB), a significant decision concerning the extent to which the courts will protect the personal information of a celebrity…. Read More »

Rowling Privacy Complaint upheld

The Daily Mirror has been criticised by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) for publishing a photograph of JK Rowling’s home. The PCC upheld a complaint from Rowling following publication of a picture of the author’s London home together with… Read More »

Trainer fined for destroying horse

The Jockey Club yesterday found trainer Evan Williams in breach of Rules 220 (iii) and 220 (viii) of the Rules of Racing  for having acted in a manner “prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct and good… Read More »

Artists to benefit from new resale right

Artists in the UK are soon to receive the benefit of a droit de suite, or artists’ resale right, for the first time. The new law will require them to be given a percentage of the sale price when their work is… Read More »

Trainer found guilty in corruption case

The Jockey Club Disciplinary Panel has imposed a 3-year disqualification on the trainer Shaun Keightley, and fined him £3,500.   In its decision, released on 14 December, the Panel found that as part of a… Read More »

Social workers fail in bid for anonymity

Mr Justice Ryder yesterday rejected an application by two social workers for an injunction to restrain them from being identified in a BBC documentary.   The application was brought after the BBC revealed that it… Read More »

BBC loses Qualified Privilege Defence

Mr Justice Gray ruled today that a BBC broadcast which accused a senior hospital manager, Mrs Marion Henry, of systematically falsifying waiting list figures, was not protected by qualified privilege, either at common law or… Read More »

Law for Journalists Conference 2005

The fourth annual Press Gazette Law for Journalists Conference 2005 took place 2 December 2005 in London.   The Conference, sponsored by Wiggin LLP and chaired by Philippa Kennedy from Press Gazette, saw keynote speeches from the Director… Read More »

New Review of IP Announced

At today’s Advancing Enterprise Conference the Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that the Government was initiating an independent review of the existing intellectual property systems in the UK. The review is to be headed by Andrew Gowers,… Read More »

Data Protection appeal refused leave

The House of Lords has refused leave to appeal out of time in Durant v Financial Services Authority.  After an oral hearing, the Appellate Committee (Lords Bingham, Carswell and Brown) ruled there was no prospect of the… Read More »

New media law titles available

5RB is pleased to announce the publication of a new edition of Arlidge, Eady and Smith on Contempt and a Supplement to the most recent edition of Gatley on Libel and Slander. A new cumulative Supplement to The Law… Read More »

Media warned over bombing claims

The Attorney General last night threatened newspapers with prosecution under the Official Secrets Act if they published the contents of a document recording a conversation between the Prime Minister and President Bush during which the… Read More »

5RB hosts Trade Mark Seminar

5RB’s Madeleine Heal, Christina Michalos and Mark Warby QC gave a seminar tonight at the Montague on the Gardens Hotel on various aspects of Trade Mark protection and other merchandising rights.   Topics covered included:     ‘Shape’ Trade Marks: Including… Read More »

Sports Law Conference: 30 Nov 2005

5RB’s Mark Warby QC will be speaking at the conference on Law for Sports Disciplinary Bodies to be held at the Marriott Marble Arch Hotel on Wednesday 30 November 2005. His topic will be Sentencing in… Read More »

BNP Candidate Loses Libel Action

A High Court jury today found that an election pamphlet produced on behalf of a Liberal Democrat candidate, Mark Morris, which criticised a BNP candidate, Mary Culnane, was not libellous of her. During a by-election campaign in… Read More »

Solicitor wins libel and harassment case

Brighton solicitor, Martin Cray, was today awarded total damages of £19,000 by the High Court in London against a former client, Anthony Hancock, who was found to have conducted a 2-year campaign of harassment against him…. Read More »

Challenge to ban on political advertising

Animal rights group Animal Defenders International have been granted permission to challenge by judicial review the ban on “political advertising” that prevents many campaign groups from promoting their views on radio and television as a violation of the right to freedom… Read More »

£250,000 damages for Rupert Lowe

Rupert Lowe, Chairman of Southampton FC, has been awarded £250,000 libel damages against The Times by a High Court Jury in London.   The article, “Men Who Would be Kings Are A Ghastly Alternative”, published in August 2004, had suggested that Mr… Read More »

Chambers’ Review: 5RB top again

5RB has been described as the “preferred choice” in the 2006 Chambers & Partners Guide, which rated 20 5RB barristers (including all 6 QCs): more than any other Chambers in the field.   “Tough cross-examiner” Desmond Browne is “the perfect bullish yet sensible advocate.”… Read More »

Naomi Campbell costs ruling

The House of Lords has today unanimously dismissed the Article 10-based challenge to the validity of CFAs in media cases brought by the Daily Mirror.   Giving the lead judgment, Lord Hoffmann held that it… Read More »