Sunday Times source convicted
A Scotland Yard staff member has pleaded guilty to “wilful misconduct in a judicial or public office” for leaking secret documents to the Sunday Times that led to an article on April 22 claiming that Iraq-based… Read More »
MP wins ‘swearing’ libel claim
A jury has awarded Labour MP Martyn Jones £5,000 in damages arising from the publication of an allegation in the Mail on Sunday that he repeatedly swore at a House of Commons security guard upon being… Read More »
Hollingsworth bid for extra £25k fails
Michael Hollingsworth today failed in an attempt to persuade a judge that the Daily Mail should pay him the full £75,000 libel damages awarded to him by a jury last month. The jury awarded… Read More »
Businessman awarded £85k damages
Turkish businessman Remzi Gur has been awarded £85,000 libel damages over allegations published in the Avrupa newspaper. Mr Gur, resident in the UK, brought the claim against the Turkish language newspaper after it published three articles, one on the front page, alleging that he was guilty… Read More »
Hollingsworth jury awards £75,000
The ex-husband of Anne Diamond was awarded £75,000 libel damages by a High Court jury today over a claim in the Daily Mail that he struck the first blow during a drink-fuelled row which ended his affair… Read More »
Reform of contempt laws considered
The Attorney General has announced plans for detailed research into the effects on juries of the media’s coverage of criminal cases, a step which could lead to an overhaul of the contempt laws. In a speech last night, he… Read More »
Channel 4 rapped by Ofcom
Ofcom today published its Adjudication on Channel Four’s broadcast of Celebrity Big Brother in January this year. The regulator instigated its investigation after receiving just over 44,500 complaints about the series, fuelled by intense media… Read More »
PCC rejects privacy complaints
The Press Complaints Commission has not upheld complaints made by Gail Sheridan, the wife of politician Tommy Sheridan, and by a police officer, that newspapers had invaded their privacy and thereby breached the Code of Practice…. Read More »
Call to extend performers’ rights
A report by the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has backed calls by the likes of Sir Cliff Richard and Paul McCartney and recommended that protection of performers’ rights be extended from 50 to… Read More »
PCC raps Sun over pregnancy story
The Sun breached Charlotte Church’s privacy by reporting the news of her pregnancy without the singer’s consent. The Press Complaints Commission ruling has confirmed its stance that reporting news of a pregnancy before the 12-week stage without the… Read More »
Hedge dispute clarifies privilege
Libel and slander claims brought by a woman against her neighbours were struck out by the High Court yesterday as Mr Justice Eady clarified the protection the law grants in respect of witness statements taken by the police…. Read More »
OK! wins Douglas appeal
The House of Lords has today ruled, by a 3-2 majority, that Hello! magazine’s publication of unauthorised photographs of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones’ wedding was in breach of confidence. OK! magazine had entered… Read More »
Slave libel claim dismissed
Libel proceedings over a book that recounted an account of slavery at the hands of a former Sudanese diplomat and his wife were dismissed at the High Court today following the failure by the Claimants to… Read More »
BBC wins FOI appeal
The BBC has won its appeal to keep secret an internal report on its coverage of the Middle East. The High Court accepted that the Information Tribunal, which had ruled that the broadcaster must make the report public,… Read More »
Record PCC privacy complaints
The Press Complaints Commission has published it’s 2006 Annual Review, revealing that it received a record number of privacy complaints during last year, and investigated and resolved its most ever complaints. The Commission dealt with 231 cases relating directly… Read More »
Racing bans after corruption inquiry
Four jockeys and a trainer have been found guilty of passing inside information for reward and 6 other people have been excluded from racing premises. On Thursday 19th April 2007, after a 9 day hearing… Read More »
75k jury award upheld on appeal
The jury award of £75,000 made to Tony Purnell, the former Principal of the Jaguar Racing Formula 1 team, has been upheld by the Court of Appeal. The libel complained of was published in… Read More »
ITN sued over prison key footage
The Home Office has launched legal proceedings against ITN after it broadcast close-up images of a prison key that could allow the key to be replicated. ITN’s report on the racially motivated murder of 19-year-old Zahid Mubarek included… Read More »
Landmark privacy case in Australia
In a decision that may usher in a privacy law in Australia, a rape victim has been awarded substantial damages after a she was wrongly identified in radio broadcasts by the ABC. In a judgment handed down in Victoria’s County Court yesterday,… Read More »
McKennitt challenge rejected
The House of Lords has refused leave to appeal in the McKennitt v Ash privacy case. Niema Ash, the defendant in the case, had petitioned for permission to challenge the decision of the Court of Appeal handed… Read More »