Latest news

Privacy injunction for Elizabeth Jagger

The elder daughter of Mick Jagger successfully applied to the High Court this week for a temporary injunction to restrain further publication of a CCTV recording captured in a Soho nightclub.   The recording included pictures of… Read More »

Hamilton ‘rape’ claims in new trial

On Monday (28 Feb 2005) the now infamous claims made by Nadine Milroy Sloan that she had been raped by Neil and Christine Hamilton will return to the High Court where they will form the backdrop… Read More »

Maxine Carr gets lifetime anonymity

Maxine Carr, the former girlfriend of Soham murderer Ian Huntley, was today granted an indefinite order protecting her new identity. In making the order, Mr Justice Eady said that it was necessary in order to protect… Read More »

Calls for PCC to be scrapped

A private members’ bill seeking the abolition of the Press Complaints Commission was published yesterday.   Labour MP Peter Bradley is introducing the bill to provide a statutory right of reply for inaccuracies published by newspapers. The bill is said to have cross-party backing as… Read More »

McLibel pair win ECHR Appeal

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the McLibel pair did not receive a fair trial and that the damages awarded against them were an interference with their right of freedom of expression…. Read More »

Playboy TV fined £25,000

The satellite service Playboy TV has been fined £25,000 by broadcasting regulator Ofcom for transmitting an R18 film on its encrypted service in breach of the Programme Code. The Code contains an absolute ban on R18… Read More »

The Sun fined for contempt

The Sun has been fined 100,000 Euros – around £70,000 – for contempt of court for an article in its Irish edition. The article, written in London although based on Dublin agency copy, was held to… Read More »

Polanski Appeal Allowed

Film director, Roman Polanski, has won the right to give evidence in his libel action against Vanity Fair via video link from France, the House of Lords has ruled today.   In a 3-2 majority judgment, the Law Lords have reversed an… Read More »

Wall Street Journal appeal dismissed

In a judgment handed down today, the Court of Appeal has upheld Eady J’s decision to reject the defence of Reynolds qualified privilege in the case brought by Mohammed Jameel and an associated company against the Wall… Read More »

Hamiltons settle with Max Clifford

Max Clifford has paid Neil and Christine Hamilton undisclosed damages and costs to settle their libel and slander claims brought in relation to false allegations of rape made against the couple by hoaxer Nadine Milroy Sloan. Mr… Read More »

Increased protection for advertising slogans?

Companies will be given greater IP protection for their advertising slogans if the full European Court decision in Societe des Produits Nestle SA v Mars UK Ltd (Case C-353/03) follows the advisory opinion of the adocate general, delivered today…. Read More »

Al Rajhi 9/11 claim dismissed

Claims made against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a number of other defendants over the 9/11 attacks have been dismissed by a US judge after preliminary applications.  The Saudi bank, Al Rajhi Banking & Investment… Read More »

Data protection fines for police staff

A special constable working for Dorset Police was fined £1000 for breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 for using police databases to look up people she knew.  The special constable in question, Geraldine Tabor,… Read More »

First peer-to-peer filesharing convictions

The first convictions for peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing have been recorded in the US. Two men who operated central hubs in a peer-to-peer community today pleaded guilty to charges of criminal copyright infringement. US government investigators had… Read More »

The new term ahead…

A new year, another very busy term for 5RB.  Here are some of the highlights of the Hilary Term: 24 January 2005 – Mahfouz v Brisard (QBD – Jury Trial) 24 January 2005 – Locum Group v… Read More »

Public Authorities open their records

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force today.  Under the Act, anyone may request recorded information on any topic from any public authority exercising functions in England, Wales or Northern Ireland. Applications may… Read More »

Jimmy Nail loses damages appeal

The Court of Appeal has today dismissed actor Jimmy Nail’s appeals against awards totalling £30,000 in libel damages against the News of the World and HarperCollins.   In its first opportunity to review compensation awards under… Read More »

Reporting restrictions refused in Burrell rape trial

Mr Justice Aikens has refused an application for reporting restrictions under s.4(2) Contempt of Court Act 1981 in the rape trial of Michael Burrell, a senior member of the Lord Chancellor’s Department.    The complainant asked the Court… Read More »

Sunday Times’ QP defence struck out

International cycling star, Lance Armstrong, has scored a significant victory over the Sunday Times in his libel battle over an article published in the newspaper in June 2004.   Sitting in the High Court in… Read More »

District Judge overturns reporting restriction

A District Judge sitting at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court this week overturned an order made under s.4(2) Contempt of Court Act 1981 forbidding the media from reporting criminal proceedings against a PC Hibbert of the West Midlands… Read More »