5RB Quiz 2015
5RB hosted its 9th annual charity pub quiz last night, to raise funds for the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the Free Representation Unit (FRU). Teams from many leading solicitors firms and media organisations competed over seven rounds of… Read More »
Privy Council hears libel appeal
On Wednesday 22 April 2015, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (Lords Clarke, Wilson, Sumption, Carnwath and Toulson) heard what is expected to be its last appeal from the Commonwealth of Dominica, which concerned… Read More »
Prince Charles letters to be released
The Supreme Court today handed down judgment in R (Evans) v HM Attorney General, deciding that 27 of Prince Charles’ letters to Government departments (the so-called “black spider letters”) should be released. The initial request… Read More »
Footballer refused privacy injunction
The Claimant (YXB) was a Premiership footballer. He had a sexual encounter with the Defendant (TNO), and they then exchanged sexually charged messages. He sent her sexually explicit photographs and video clips of his body…. Read More »
House of Lords on Press Regulation
On 23 March, the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications released its report: Press Regulation: where are we now? The Committee’s report discusses the history of press regulation, what has happened since the publication… Read More »
Under 18s reporting restriction changes
Among a series of provisions of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 which will come into force on April 13 2015 are provisions amending the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 (CYPA 1933) and the… Read More »
‘Revenge porn’ offence commencement
A series of measures in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 will come into force on 13 April 2015. Of particular interest to media lawyers will be: – The coming into force of the… Read More »
Cruddas Appeal allowed in part
On 17 March 2015 the Court of Appeal handed down judgment in Cruddas v (1) Calvert (2) Blake (3) Times Newspapers Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 171. Mr Cruddas had brought claims in libel and malicious… Read More »
5RB Talks 2015: Cardiff
The second of 5RB’s 2015 series of talks took place on 12 March in Cardiff. 5RB’s William Bennett, Christina Michalos and David Hirst spoke. William Bennett gave an overview of the Defamation Act 2013 and… Read More »
5RB at the Big Voice London Moots
5RB’s Godwin Busuttil and Felicity McMahon were amongst the judges for the second round of the Big Voice London Mooting Competition 2015. Teams consisted of one BPTC student and one sixth-form student, and each student… Read More »
Privacy injunction statistics published
The Ministry of Justice has released its quarterly civil justice statistics report, which amongst other matters records the number of privacy injunctions applied for, awarded or continued over the period. The bulletin records that one… Read More »
N-word text appeal dismissed
The bid by former professional footballer and Kick It Out ambassador Paul Elliott to have the libel claim against him by fellow former professional Richard Rufus struck out by the Court of Appeal has failed…. Read More »
‘Revenge Porn’ becomes a specific criminal offence
On 12 February 2015 the Criminal Justice and Courts Act received Royal Assent. The new Act makes covers a number of areas of the law, but of particular interest to media lawyers will be the… Read More »
5RB Talks 2015: Bristol
5RB‘s series of 2015 talks kicked off on 12 February in Bristol. 5RB‘s Jacob Dean, Felicity McMahon and Julian Santos spoke about the Defamation Act 2013 and developments since it came into force, how to… Read More »
Supreme Court hears costs appeal
The Supreme Court will hear the residual part of the appeal in Coventry v Lawrence this coming Monday (the 9th February). Although the underlying appeal concerns a nuisance case (Lawrence v Fen Tigers and ors… Read More »
Court of Appeal upholds Rihanna passing off claim
The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court decision in a claim for passing off brought by the singer Rihanna against Topshop. The dispute centered around a t-shirt which featured a photograph of the… Read More »
OPO v MLA to begin in Supreme Court
The Supreme Court will hear the appeal in OPO v MLA on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th January 2015. The panel consists of Lord Neuberger, Lady Hale, Lord Clarke, Lord Wilson and Lord Toulson. In its… Read More »
Christina Michalos appointed to Gray’s Inn Bench
5RB is pleased to announce that Christina Michalos has been elected a Bencher of Gray’s Inn. The highest level of Inn membership is that of Master of the Bench and the Benchers form the governing body of… Read More »
CQC apologises to Jill Finney
The CQC has settled the libel and Human Rights Act claims brought against it by its former Deputy Chief Executive Jill Finney following a mediation last week. The CQC has published the following apology on… Read More »
Times costs appeal in Flood rejected
The Court of Appeal has rejected the appeal brought by Times Newspapers Ltd against the costs ruling made by Nicola Davies J in Gary Flood’s favour at the conclusion of his claim for libel. The claim arose… Read More »