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.

Nigel Evans, contempt and clues about alleged victims – David Banks

WAS Nigel Evans flirting with contempt of court by so publicly protesting his innocence on TV?  That was the question I was asked after he had appeared before cameras to deny the allegations of rape; talk of his shock that they had been made and thank his constituents and friends for their support.

Launch of new survey on the legal experiences and views of journalists and online publishers – Judith Townend

A new survey for journalists and bloggers, which can be found at this link, aims to collect information about their experiences of and views on libel and privacy law

Law and Media Round Up – 13 May 2013

The Guardian is attempting to overturn the Attorney General’s veto of the publication of Prince Charles’ correspondence with seven Government departments. An application for judicial review was heard over two days last week by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, with Lord Justice Davis and Mr Justice Globe.

Law and Media Round Up – 6 May 2013

On 3 May 2013, journalists, lawyers, academics and campaigners marked World Press Freedom Day. Article 19 launched ‘The Right to Blog’ – a new policy paper “that calls for lawmakers to better promote and protect the rights of bloggers domestically and internationally“.

Ten ways in which copyright engages freedom of expression, Part 2: Sliders six to ten – Graham Smith

This is the second part of a two part post discussing the relationship between Copyright and Freedom of Expression. Part 1 was published on Inforrm on 2 May 2012.

Ten ways in which copyright engages freedom of expression, Part 1, Sliders one to five – Graham Smith

The recent Donald Ashby (sub nom Ashby Donald) decision of the European Court of Human Rights has revived interest in the relationship between copyright and freedom of expression. The litigation arose because two of the defendant photographers had put on their US website pictures taken by the third at the Paris fashion shows.

Law and Media Round Up – 29 April 2013

The biggest news of the week is that the Defamation Bill received Royal Assent and is now the Defamation Act 2013, three years after the publication of Lord Lester’s original Defamation Bill. Inforrm reported the news and context here; a commentary by Jo Glanville, director of English PEN, can be found here. Robert Sharp, also of English PEN, has dissected some of the detail here and here. A report in Belfast Telegraph reports that Index on Censorship is questioning Stormont’s decision to block the Act from becoming law in Northern Ireland.

Law and Media Round Up – 22 April 2013

There are two key developments in Parliament to report this week: the House of Commons rejected proposals to stop corporations suing for defamation unless they can show serious financial loss. After a short debate the House approved a Government motion to disagree with Amendment No.2 by 298 votes to 230. Justice Minister Helen Grant said the government was “prepared to consider actively that aspect of the Lords amendment further, and we will listen carefully to the views expressed in both Houses”.

Outrageous Opinion on Social Media: The Correct Role of the Law – Oliver O’Callaghan

Barely a week passes without another spate of Twitter controversies; last week’s protagonists included the Youth Police Commissioner of Kent, Paris Brown, forced to resign over her past ‘youthful indiscretions’ on the social networking site; Irish cricketer John Mooney was reprimanded by his employer for some ill-considered remarks on the passing of Margaret Thatcher; while footballer Joey Barton was threatened with legal action over his wearily familiar and uncouth pronouncements on a fellow player.