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 »
5RB website given new recognition
Delia Venables, the creator of arguably the most comprehensive online guide to Legal Resources on the Internet, has today accorded the 5RB website new recognition. Ms Venables observes that “5RB (5 Raymond Buildings) is developing its website into a… Read More »
Douglas v Hello! in the CA
The Court of Appeal is this week hearing appeals in the key privacy case of Douglas v Hello! Ltd. Under scrutiny are Lindsay J’s decisions on liability and damages. The Court hearing the appeals is composed… Read More »
Jockey Club excludes punter
The Jockey Club today excluded John McCracken, a Brighton based horseracing punter, from all premises owned or licensed by it for an indefinite period. The exclusion order was granted by the Jockey Club’s Disciplinary Committee on… Read More »
Absolute privilege refused in child case
At the outset of the trial of a libel claim against Westminster City Council and two social workers employed by it, the Court struck out the defence of absolute privilege but ruled that qualified privilege would… Read More »
Guardian victory on access to court documents
The Guardian newspaper today won an important ruling on access to court documents. Park J granted it access to the court file in the Alvis case (Chan U Seek v Alvis Vehicles Ltd) in which… Read More »
Police lose qualified privilege appeal
The Court of Appeal has today dismissed an appeal by the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police against a finding last December that one of his officers had defamed the Claimant, Ben Wood. Following… Read More »
Galloway awarded £150,000 damages
Mr Justice Eady has given judgment in George Galloway’s libel action against The Daily Telegraph. The judge found that the newspaper had seriously libelled the MP and awarded him £150,000 in damages. For a copy… Read More »
Watchdog rules against ‘violent’ advert
The Advertising Standards Authority has today ruled that an advertisement for the Newspaper Marketing Agency printed in a number of national newspapers was violent and offensive and should not be used again. The advertisement, which appeared in… Read More »
Jameel Appeals in the CA
The hearing of the Defendants’ appeals from the decisions against them in the cases of Jameel & another v Wall Street Journal and Jameel v Dow Jones & Company Inc starts in the Court of Appeal today…. Read More »
Independent Press is ‘fundamental’
Deputy Chief Justice, Lord Justice Judge, speaking today at the Law for Journalists Conference in London said that the freedom of the press was of ‘inestimable value’. Giving the keynote address at the beginning of… Read More »
Daily Star found guilty of contempt
The Divisional Court (Rose LJ and Pitchford J) has found Express Newspapers guilty of contempt of court over the Daily Star‘s coverage of a case involving two Premiership footballers and fined the newspaper group £60,000. In September 2003… Read More »
Freedom of information update
With just over one month to go before the Freedom of Information Act 2000 comes into force on 1 January 2005, Jonathan Barnes of 5RB will outline the Act’s operation and how it might be… Read More »
5RB @ Media Law Conference
Desmond Browne QC and Mark Warby QC of 5RB will be speaking at the second annual Management Forum Media Law Conference on 26 January 2005 which will be chaired by Christina Michalos, also of 5RB. Mark… Read More »