Interesting UK defamation trends
Friday, October 10th, 2008UK research into defamation reveals another hike in lawsuits from celebrities (32% of claims), and an increasing readiness by media organisations to settle (61% of cases result in a statement in open court). Results from 2007 had tracked an increase in claims from people accused of terrorism, and claims against posts on blogs and message […]
Libel by song
Thursday, October 9th, 2008A British magazine that quoted a song whose lyrics suggested that a politician was involved in an assault has settled a defamation lawsuit for a five-figure sum.
A case to keep an eye on
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008Max Mosley, who successfully sued for invasion of privacy over the disgraceful “Nazi sex orgy” hidden camera sting, is taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights with an interesting argument: the law should require the media to give advance notice to the subjects of their revelations before publishing them. That would give […]
A different way to tackle the juror-internet problem
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008Fine the jurors. Under new laws in Victoria, jurors can now be fined up to A$13,000 for conducting online research during a trial.
Eat the worm
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008There’s talk that TV3 might use the worm again for its leaders’ debate. In an attempt to persuade them not to, let me revisit a column I wrote before the last election: I see the worm is back. No, I’m not talking about John O’Neill. I mean the squiggly electronic line that measures audience reaction […]
TV3 next in the dock…?
Tuesday, October 7th, 2008It’s an innocuous-sounding phrase, but it should be emblazoned on the memory of every court reporter: “identity is at issue”. That means that the defence will be arguing that “it wasn’t me, it was someone else”. (This can be contrasted with a defence such as, “it was me, but it wasn’t a crime, or it […]
TV3 wrong about gong
Friday, October 3rd, 2008TV3 misled viewers when it broadcast its Campbell Live interview with an actor playing one of the Waiuru Army Museum medal thieves, the BSA has ruled. Viewers were only told that the voice was that of an actor, and might well have thought the person they were seeing was one of the real thieves. After […]
A plea for savvy election night coverage
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008It’s not too much to ask, surely. Here’s what any sensible person, at least half-interested in politics, is going to want to know as the election results roll in: 1. What’s going on in the key electorates that might make or break a party? Winston Peters, Rodney Hide, Peter Dunne, Jim Anderton, maybe Ron Mark. […]
Open letter to Reading Cinemas
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008I like your comfy seats. But you know that ad you run with the fat guy in front of the TV, stuffing himself with chippies? The one where one of the books gets fed up with him and flies through the air to drive him off the couch and out the door that swings open […]
Nice Job 3
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008This week also sees a ripper of a decision from Justice Harrison, overturning Judge Treston’s ruling that the media can’t have a copy of the videotape evidence from the unsuccessful prosecution of the police officers accused of assaulting Rawiri Falwasser with batons and pepper spray in custody. (I have criticised Judge Treston’s decision here). Among […]
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