PETA resists video footage injunction
An attempt by a US pharmaceutical testing company to prevent publication in the UK of undercover footage taken inside a US primate experimentation facility has failed. HHJ Langan QC, sitting in the Chancery Division… Read More »
Channel 4 film given go-ahead
Mr Justice Munby today handed down his judgment giving the reasons for his refusal to grant an injunction to prevent transmission of a Channel 4 documentary scheduled for 8 June. The documentary, “Being Pamela”, is a portrait of… Read More »
ASA rejects KFC complaints
In two food-related adjudications published today, the Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a television advertisement for Kentucky Fried Chicken, which attracted a record number of complaints, was not likely adversely to affect children and did not breach the TV… Read More »
Guilty verdicts in ‘tapping-up’ case
The FA Premier League has found Chelsea FC, its manager Jose Mourinho and Arsenal FC player Ashley Cole in breach of its rules over the ‘tapping-up’ of Cole. Chelsea have been fined £300,000, Mourinho £200,000 and… Read More »
Aerial libel costs £22,500
A High Court jury today awarded a former Mayor of Castlepoint in Essex £22,500 libel damages after a local businessman distributed leaflets from a plane falsely claiming that she was a shoplifter. The Claimant, Jennifer… Read More »
CFAs face new challenge in Lords
The long-running dispute between Naomi Campbell and The Daily Mirror returns to the House of Lords today with a challenge to conditional fee agreements in media cases. In May last year, the House of Lords (by a 3:2… Read More »
New Ofcom Broadcasting Code
Broadcasting regulator Ofcom has today published its new Broadcasting Code. The Code, which comes into force on 25 July 2005, covers standards in programmes, sponsorship, fairness and privacy across radio and television. The single, simplified… Read More »
Harassment hotline launched by regulators
Ofcom has today issued guidance to people who find themselves at the centre of a “media scrum” and are concerned about the conduct of broadcast journalists. As a post-transmission regulator, Ofcom has no powers to… Read More »
Ofcom rejects BBC programme complaints
Two adjudications on complaints about BBC television programmes released today by media watchdog Ofcom represent victories for the media. The cases consider the issues of fairness, the right to reply, privacy and public interest. In the… Read More »
Hello! wins ‘privacy’ appeal
The Court of Appeal has today handed down a landmark privacy judgment recognising for the first time that the courts have a duty to protect privacy interests. In summary, the Court has held: Following the von… Read More »
Latest libel Damages awards
Mr Justice Eady has today handed down two judgments in separate cases involving assessments of compensation under the offer of amends procedure of the Defamation Act 1996. Adding to the case law on the subject, the… Read More »
Radio 2 is Station of the Year
The BBC had a successful evening at last night’s Sony Radio Awards. Radio 2 confirmed its position as the most popular station by winning the station of the year prize. Jeremy Vine, who took over the station’s lunchtime programme from… Read More »
Jessie Wallace fails in injunction bid
Eastenders’ star Jessie Wallace has failed in an attempt to prevent allegations about her private life becoming public. On Saturday 7 May, Ms Wallace sought an injunction to prevent the News of the World… Read More »
Ofcom rejects Jerry Springer complaint
The media regulator Ofcom has cleared the BBC of breaching any television guidelines in its broadcasting of ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’. The broadcast in January was the centre of a fierce public debate, with the BBC drawing severe… Read More »
Lords to hear Jameel Appeal
The House of Lords (Lords Bingham, Steyn & Rodger) has given permission to appeal to the Wall Street Journal Europe in the case of Jameel & Anor v Wall Street Journal Europe Sprl. Permission has… Read More »
Beckham ‘kidnap’ libel claim fails
A Romanian alleged to have been a member of a gang plotting to kidnap Victoria Beckham has lost his claim for libel. Mr Justice Eady today ruled that the allegations, published in the News… Read More »
New Copyright Regulations
The Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 is extended to foreign authors and corporations and works published abroad by Order in Council made under s. 159. From 1st May 2005, the previous Order (Copyright (Application to… Read More »
Beckhams’ nanny gives undertakings
Mr Justice Eady today accepted undertakings from Abbie Gibson, the Beckhams’ former nanny, that she would not use or disclose further confidential information about the couple after they feared more tabloid exposés. Separately Ms Gibson also undertook… Read More »
Beckhams fail in Injunction Bid
David and Victoria Beckham failed in a 11th hour bid for an injunction last night to prevent their former nanny from revealing details of their private life in the News of the World. The couple… Read More »
Indemnity costs in police libel case
Mr Justice Eady today awarded indemnity costs to Associated Newspapers for their successful defence of the libel claim brought by Christopher Miller, the police officer who supervised the investigation into false claims that Neil and Christine Hamilton… Read More »