Nieman Reports: British Libel Law: Its Ripple Effect on Journalists Worldwide

Posted on 17 March, 2011 by Martin Stabe

A timely article because it will soon be out of date: "The Duke of Brunswick ruling—formally known as the 'multiple publication' rule—still stands. Brought into the Internet era, it means that if an article is viewed even once in the U.K., it falls under its jurisdiction for a libel suit."

Guardian: ‘Laughing stock’ libel laws to be reformed, says Nick Clegg

Posted on 7 January, 2011 by Martin Stabe

"Nick Clegg will [on Friday] set out the most ambitious plans yet to relax Britain's libel laws, saying he will back a raft of reforms including a statutory public interest defence. ... Britain will become the first country to ask parliament to set out its libel laws, and provide greater clarity ... He also wants large corporations to show they have suffered substantial damage before they sue individuals and non-governmental organisations. A new limited privilege will be given to newspapers when reporting the proceedings of foreign parliaments."

Sunday Times: Jack Straw pledges action to end libel tourism

Posted on 22 November, 2009 by Martin Stabe

"The justice secretary says the large legal fees involved in defamation cases in English courts are jeopardising freedom of speech, potentially curbing vital debate by scientists, academics and journalists."

Times Online: Libel tourists flock to ‘easy’ UK courts

Posted on 1 November, 2009 by Martin Stabe

"John Mardas, a Greek citizen and former associate of the Beatles, is fighting a case in the British courts against The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune over articles that he claims falsely represented him as a charlatan. Just 31 people read the relevant articles on the internet in England. The New York Times only sold 177 copies of its newspaper with the disputed article in England, while it was not published in the International Herald Tribune in this country, according to the defendants."

TheyWorkForYou: Westminster Hall debate 17 December

Posted on 20 December, 2008 by Martin Stabe

Denis MacShane: "The practice of libel tourism as it is known—the willingness of British courts to allow wealthy foreigners who do not live here to attack publications that have no connection with Britain—is now an international scandal. It shames Britain and makes a mockery of the idea that Britain is a protector of core democratic freedoms."

FindLaw’s Writ: The Ehrenfeld/Mahfouz Case How "Libel Tourism" Undermines the First Amendment and, in the Internet Age, Compels An International Solution

Posted on 26 December, 2007 by Martin Stabe

A important case with major implications for US journalists sued under English libel law is working its way through the US courts, but few people are paying any attention to it...

Newsday.com: Court: State law won’t protect terror author from libel judgment

Posted on 26 December, 2007 by Martin Stabe

"New York [state]'s highest court decided Thursday a state law can't help a Manhattan author block a libel verdict brought against her in [the High Court in] London by a Saudi billionaire over her book 'Funding Evil'"

Martin Stabe

A UK-centric look at new media and online journalism

Category Archives: libeltourism