Case Law – R (on the application of A) v Lowestoft Magistrates Court, application for anonymity refused – Oliver Stimpson

In R (on the application of A) v Lowestoft Magistrates Court ([2013] EWHC 659 (Admin)) the Administrative Court refused to make an anonymity order in favour of a Labour Councillor and reaffirmed the importance of transparency and open justice.

Defamation Act 2013: A boost for free speech, Part 3: Intermediary liability – Timothy Pinto

In this third part of four posts by Timothy Pinto of Taylor Wessing, he assesses the liability of intermediaries under the Defamation Act 2013.  Part 1 dealt with “Serious Harm, Truth and Honest Opinion” and Part 2 with “Public Interest and Privilege“.

Article 19 and the “Right to Blog”

The freedom of expression NGO, Article 19, has published a policy paper on the “Right to Blog” [pdf].  Article 19 proposes a set of recommendations to state actors and policy makers about what they should do to promote and protect the rights of bloggers domestically and internationally.

Defamation Act 2013: A boost for free speech, Part 2: Public Interest and Privilege – Timothy Pinto

In this second part of four posts by Timothy Pinto of Taylor Wessing, he considers the changes to common law and statutory privilege which will result from the Defamation Act 2013. Part 1 on “Serious Harm, Truth and Honest Opinion” can be found here.

New Police Guidance on Relationships with the Media: contacts with the media and “naming of suspects”

The College of Policing has issued new “Guidance on Relationships with the Media” [pdf].   This has been produced to ensure greater consistency between police forces and in response to the Leveson Inquiry.  The Guidance deals with contacts between police officers and the media, the circumstances in which  arrested persons should be named and with “media ridealongs”.

Defamation Act 2013: A boost for free speech – Part 1: Serious Harm, Truth and Honest opinion – Timothy Pinto

This is the first of four posts by Timothy Pinto of Taylor Wessing where he provides analysis of the key provisions of the UK’s Defamation Act 2013 and its likely practical implications under English law. The four posts will cover: Serious harm, Truth and Honest opinion, Privilege, Intermediary liability, and Other key provisions.

Law and Media Round Up – 20 May 2013

Mary-Ellen Field, Elle Macpherson’s former adviser, has discontinued her phone-hacking claim against News Group Newspapers, as Media Guardian reports here and The Independent here.

Meanwhile, criminal prosecutions of New Group employees. continue.  On 14 May 2013, the CPS announced that a journalist at the Sun newspaper, a press officer at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and his partner (not a public official) should be charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.  There was an Inforrm news item on this.