Quick one for bloggers
9 January, 2009
This article on blogging and libel highlighed by Iain Dale as required reading for all bloggers.
Thought this quote was interesting:
‘Defamation lawyers are now spending lots of time tracking down anonymous internet users. In contrast to libel actions against newspapers, in some cases claimants are now bringing proceedings simply to establish who is responsible for damaging their reputations and obtain injunctions against them, regardless of whether or not they will recover substantial damages.’
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How very depressing.
All sounds like another reason why we need a sensible automatic “right to free speech” law – or at least an automatic assumed “public interest unless malicious intent can be demonstrated by the complainant” amendment to the British Defamation Laws.
I am amazed, really, that the UK Libel Law has not been reformed – there is an article in the back on the latest Private Eye about “Libel Tourism” which makes it transparently clear that we are (i) completely out of step with the rest of the world and (ii) becoming an utter laughing stock as a consequence.
You would think that the numerous examples past (e.g. Robert “Cap’n’ Bob” Maxwell and Lord Archer, to name but two) and more current (e.g. Matthias Rath) would have shown clearly the utter ludicrousness of the current law, the way it is repeatedly used by those with something to hide to suppress enquiry into their activity, and the consequent “reputational management” bonanza for the libel lawyers.
The sense of the surreal was complete when, as Private Eye reports, a Tory MP with friends in the legal profession claimed that the current laws were needed to give “ordinary citizens” recourse to law to protect their reputation. ..!!!?!
If you want to see who the lawyers actually expect to get their defamation-related work from, you need only read the “pitch to prospective clients” bits on law firms’ websites – e.g. see Eversheds’ one here.
UK libel law is an ass. Great for libel lawyers, not so great for the rest of us.
How wonderful! I’ve just stumbled across your blog and “of course” the medical profession now blogs too. Social Media is nothing if not an open door to new possibilities of communication. For some reason I hadn’t thought of Medical practitioners as potential bloggers…(?)..Why not I wonder… So stupid pf me!
Yesterday, I heard about a General Practice in Bow (London) that incorporates waiting-room and a gallery space together, a connection that seems rather obvious when one thinks about it.
Web 2.0 has the potential to really move ideas about between hitherto “closed” groups of professionals….I see this as a tremendously encouraging development amidst all the gloom of the present economic climate.
I shall now enjoy looking about the rest of your blog
/ Linda
And…Here’s the links to the Bow Arts project:
http://tinyurl.com/9n2ysh
http://tinyurl.com/7d524h
/L