Publisher settles Warren libel action
The libel action brought by Frank Warren, the well-known boxing promoter, against Random House the publisher has settled. Mr Warren has accepted an offer of £115,000 in damages in addition to his costs. Mr Warren complained… Read More »
Sir Salman Rushdie slurs declared false
Sir Salman Rushdie has received an apology and been granted a declaration of falsity by the High Court in respect of claims contained in a book about his time living under police protection. Former police officer Ron Evans,… Read More »
United Nations attacks UK libel law
The United Nations has expressed concern that UK defamation law is discouraging critical media reporting on matters of serious public interest, including through the “phenomenon of ‘libel tourism’”. A Human Rights Committee report suggests the introduction a ‘public figure’ defence and the imposition… Read More »
CONFERENCE 5RB 24 September 2008
Cost: £350 plus VAT CPD Accredited Book Now The two years since the last 5RB Conference have seen important developments in media and sports law as the Courts have wrestled with the difficult balance to… Read More »
Apology for Prince Philip cancer story
The Evening Standard has today published a prominent apology to Prince Philip for a story it published on its front page yesterday, which stated that the Prince had been diagnosed with prostate cancer. As intimated in its statement… Read More »
Palace to make privacy complaint
Buckingham Palace has issued a statement denying the truth of an Evening Standard article claiming that Prince Philip has prostate cancer and stating that a privacy complaint will be made to the Press Complaints Commission…. Read More »
George Galloway wins libel damages
George Galloway MP was today awarded £15,000 in libel damages by Mr Justice Eady in respect of a broadcast on a local and internet radio station which alleged that he held anti-Semitic views. Jcom Radio, a Jewish community… Read More »
400k fine for BBC phone-in fakery
Ofcom has today fined the BBC a record £400,000 for “very serious” breaches of the Broadcasting Code after the broadcaster deceived its audience by faking winners of competitions and “deliberately conducting competitions unfairly”. The largest single fine – £115k… Read More »
Max Mosley awarded £60,000
Max Mosley today succeeded in his High Court privacy action brought against News Group Newspapers over The News of the World‘s publication of a video and accompanying article which showed intimate scenes of Mr Mosley… Read More »
Irish privacy claimant wins €90k
A woman has been awarded €90,000 (£71,000) damages against Associated Newspapers (Ireland) for publishing articles about her relationship with a priest based on unlawfully tapped phone conversations. The articles, published over three successive weeks in… Read More »
Media gain access to care case
The President of the Family Division today ruled that the media may report details from a care case following the abduction of the child involved. The case had attracted press attention after the child’s… Read More »
Warren wins offer of amends appeal
Publisher Random House has lost its attempt to withdraw an offer of amends made to Frank Warren in favour of a justification defence in its battle with the boxing promoter over Ricky Hatton’s autobiography. … Read More »
Max Mosley privacy trial concludes
The trial of the privacy action brought by FIA President Max Mosley concluded in the High Court today. James Price QC, acting for Mr Mosley, who is bringing the claim against News Group Newspapers… Read More »
Scottish solicitor cleared of contempt
A Scottish Human rights lawyer who commented on the conviction of a man for terrorism offences did not commit contempt, the Scottish High Court ruled this week. Aamer Anwar described the man’s conviction as ‘a tragedy… Read More »
UK phone tap laws violated Article 8
The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the interception of communications under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 violated Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantees citizens a right to respect… Read More »
Mosley damages claim survives
News Group Newspapers today lost its application to strike-out the exemplary damages claim brought against it by Max Mosley, the president of motor racing’s governing body. Mr Mosley has brought an action for invasion of… Read More »
Police raid privacy complaint upheld
The PCC today issued an important privacy ruling on website video images and stills of a police drugs raid published in a regional newspaper. The Scarborough Evening News accompanied police on the raid of a… Read More »
US court rejects ‘character’ privacy
An underpants-clad guitar-playing cowboy has had his privacy claim against the maker of M&Ms and its ad agency for their alleged appropriation of his likeness and persona dismissed by a New York judge, although his claim for trade… Read More »
Ofcom imposes record radio fine
The broadcasting regulator Ofcom has fined GCap Media plc £1,110,000 in respect of unfair conduct in its running of a “secret sound” competition. The competition, which was broadcast on 30 of GCap’s local radio… Read More »
PCC reject Rowling home address complaint
The Press Complaints Commission has rejected a complaint from JK Rowling under Clause 3 (Privacy) of the PCC Code against three newspapers which had published details of where she lives. The Harry Potter author had,… Read More »