Media: British Chiropractic Association v Dr Simon Singh – Law Society’s Gazette

“While the northern hemisphere is paralysed by the seismic shift that has caused the Icelandic volcano, Mt Eyjafjallajökull, to erupt, the case of the British Chiropractic Association (BCA) against Dr Simon Singh promises to have an equally seismic effect on the legal landscape of libel in the UK and the defence of fair comment – especially in the area of scientific debate.”

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Law Society’s Gazette, 22nd April 2010

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

How many libel cases are there? – The Guardian

Posted April 15th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, statistics by sally

“As science writer Simon Singh wins his libel case, we look at how the numbers of proceedings have changed.”

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The Guardian, 15th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

British Chiropractic Association v Singh – WLR Daily

British Chiropractic Association v Singh [2010] EWCA Civ 350; [2010] WLR (D) 96

“A statement, made by a scientific journalist in a newspaper article, that there was ‘not a jot of evidence’ to support a professional body’s claims of certain medical benefits resulting from its members’ treatment of patients was not an assertion of fact but a statement of opinion.”

WLR Daily, 12th April 2010

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Overhaul of libel laws ‘will have to wait’ – The Independent

Posted April 8th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by sally

“Plans to cut the profits of law firms who bring libel claims against the media have been dropped, MPs have been told. Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, had promised an overhaul of Britain’s libel laws after a review found the rules had a ‘chilling effect’ on freedom of expression. Among the reforms was a draft law to reduce the fees charged by ‘no-win no-fee’ lawyers in defamation cases from 100 per cent to 10 per cent.”

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The Independent, 8th April 2010

Soruce: www.independent.co.uk

Superinjunctions inquiry to start work next month – The Guardian

Posted April 7th, 2010 in freedom of expression, injunctions, inquiries, media, news by sally

“Superinjunctions are to be examined by a powerful committee of judges and lawyers, it was announced today, after months of speculation about the impact of the legal restrictions on press freedom.”

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The Guardian, 6th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ministry of Justice orders legal review of superinjunctions – The Guardian

Posted April 6th, 2010 in freedom of expression, injunctions, media, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“A legal review of the use of superinjunctions to suppress media reporting has been ordered by the Ministry of Justice.”

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The Guardian, 5th April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Simon Singh wins libel court battle – The Guardian

“Science writer Simon Singh today won his court of appeal battle for the right to rely on the defence of fair comment in a libel action.”

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The Guardian, 1st April 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reform of libel laws will protect freedom of expression – Ministry of Justice

Posted March 24th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, Ministry of Justice, news by sally

“Reforms of the law on libel will be taken forward in the next Parliament, Justice Secretary Jack Straw announced today.”

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Ministry of Justice, 23rd March 2010

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Jack Straw unveils plan to curb libel tourism – The Guardian

Posted March 24th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Overseas claimants will be discouraged from launching libel cases in UK courts and a ‘public interest’ defence may be introduced to protect investigative journalism, under legal changes unveiled today.”

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The Guardian, 24th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Reform of libel laws will protect freedom of expression – The Guardian

Posted March 23rd, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, news, public interest by sally

“Justice secretary Jack Straw explains why he is proposing a law to curtail ‘libel tourism’ and create a ‘public interest’ defence.”

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The Guardian, 23rd March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Tech chiefs attack digital economy bill – The Guardian

Posted March 10th, 2010 in bills, copyright, freedom of expression, internet, news by sally

“Amendments made to the digital economy bill by the House of Lords threaten freedom of speech and will lead to British websites being blocked without due judicial process, the bosses of leading technology companies said today.”

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The Guardian, 10th March 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

PCC rejects complaint over Jan Moir column about Stephen Gately’s death – The Guardian

Posted February 18th, 2010 in complaints, freedom of expression, homosexuality, media, news by sally

“The Press Complaints Commission has rejected a complaint from the partner of Stephen Gately, the Boyzone singer who died suddenly in October, over an article by the Daily Mail columnist Jan Moir.”

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The Guardian, 18th February 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Sir Ken MacDonald: former DPP warns British libel laws suppressing free speech – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 5th, 2010 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news, privacy by sally

“British courts represent a serious threat to freedom of speech, suppressing the spread of information around the world, the former Director of Public Prosecutions Sir Ken MacDonald said.”

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Daily Telegraph, 5th February 2010

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Jon Gaunt wins right to free speech challenge against media regulator – The Guardian

Posted January 28th, 2010 in freedom of expression, judicial review, media, news by sally

“The radio presenter Jon Gaunt won his battle today to take the media regulator Ofcom to a judicial review over a live interview in which he called a councillor a ‘Nazi’.”

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The Guardian, 27th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Jon Gaunt begins TalkSport court battle – The Guardian

Posted January 27th, 2010 in freedom of expression, media, news by sally

“Radio presenter claims Ofcom breached right to free speech by upholding complaints about on-air comments.”

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The Guardian, 27th January 2010

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Super-injunctions do limit freedom of speech, Speaker’s lawyers advise – The Guardian

Posted December 7th, 2009 in freedom of expression, injunctions, news by sally

“Controversial ‘super-injunctions’ highlighted by the Guardian do prevent the media’s reporting of proceedings in parliament, the Commons Speaker’s  legal team have advised in a move MPs will regard as a real threat to free speech.”

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The Guardian, 6th December 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Speech by Mr Justice Eady – Judiciary of England and Wales

Posted November 12th, 2009 in freedom of expression, human rights, privacy, speeches by sally

Speech by Mr Justice Eady (PDF)

University of Hertfordshire, 10th November 2009

Source: www.judiciary.gov.uk

Last-ditch bid for ‘gay hate’ law – BBC News

Posted November 12th, 2009 in freedom of expression, homosexuality, incitement, news by sally

“The government is bidding to overturn a defeat in the House of Lords over new laws criminalising ‘homophobic hatred’.”

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BBC News, 12th November 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

QC’s view: ‘Media must fight harder for its freedom’ – The Guardian

Posted November 11th, 2009 in defamation, freedom of expression, media, news by sally

“‘We do not have free speech in Britain, we have expensive speech … Defending a libel action in Britain is vastly more expensive than in any other European country – lawyers will rack up a million pounds in fees for a short trial and our cash-strapped media is increasingly choosing to settle rather than to fight for its freedom – which, after all, is its reader’s freedom to receive information.'”

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The Guardian, 10th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Call to reform ‘repressive’ English libel laws – The Guardian

Posted November 11th, 2009 in defamation, freedom of expression, news by sally

“Intimidating and out-of-date laws are silencing free speech and scientific inquiry, a report claims, amid increasing controversy over England’s status as ‘the libel capital of the world’.”

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The Guardian, 10th November 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk