5RB welcomes new member
5RB today welcomed its newest member of Chambers, Madeleine Heal. Madeleine joins to strengthen further the intellectual property practice at the media and entertainment law set. A commercial litigator who specialises in IP, Madeleine practises in all areas of… Read More »
Royal Television Society Discussion Evening
The Royal Television Society is holding a discussion evening on the ethical issues involved in film-making on 21 June 2005. Speakers include Steve Anderson (Mentorn), Roger Graef (Films of Record), Mira King (Special Edition Films), Mark Soldinger (Firecracker… Read More »
Football libel trial – hung jury
The jury in the libel action between Liverpool and Australia football star Harry Kewell and Gary Lineker has been discharged after being unable to reach a verdict. Kewell had sued over an article entitled “Kewell move made… Read More »
Image Rights and Privacy Talk
The Intellectual Property Lawyers’ Organisation was addressed over dinner last night by 5RB’s Christina Michalos on the topic of ‘Image Rights and Privacy: After Douglas v Hello!‘ The event was hosted by Gray’s Inn and chaired… Read More »
Jerry Springer judicial review fails
A challenge by a religious group to the BBC’s decision to transmit Jerry Springer – the Opera has been dismissed by the High Court. The Newcastle-based, Christian Institute, had applied for a judicial review of the BBC’s decision to broadcast the… Read More »
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 »