Monthly Archives: September 2010

Legal battle ends for blogger Dave Osler

Posted on September 22, 2010 by

A three year legal battle is over for journalist and blogger Dave Osler. The political activist Johanna Kaschke has been refused her right to appeal the High Court’s decision to strike out the case in May 2010. In a separate … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, defamation, media law | Tagged | 8 Comments

Media law podcast: ‘Help I’m a Blogger Get Me Out of Here!’

Posted on September 22, 2010 by

In this special one-off podcast, I talk to bloggers, journalists and a lawyer about fighting legal battles online. Just what does happen when you’re a lone blogger and legal trouble strikes? Free theme music courtesy of podcastthemes.com. If you have … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, digital open justice, podcasts | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Tickets available for Reframing Libel Symposium – Thursday 4th November 2010

Posted on September 21, 2010 by

Tickets are now available for the Reframing Libel Symposium. Follow this link to reserve your place Event Type: Forums Speaker(s): Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC; Magnus Boyd; Tracey Brown; Dominic Crossley; Robert Dougans; Professor Alastair Mullis; Dr Andrew Scott; … Continue reading →

Posted in defamation, events, media law | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Legal dilemmas in the digital newsroom

Posted on September 18, 2010 by

Ed Walker, online communities editor at Media Wales, has written about the challenges posed on his media law refresher course. They’re tricky scenarios, tackling privacy, contempt and defamation law. Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, defamation, digital open justice, media law, media law resources, newspapers | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Online law survey: Mixed feelings about resources; 27% respondents encountered legal trouble in last two years

Posted on September 17, 2010 by

New research shows divided opinion about the need for legal resources for small or independent online publishers in the UK, while 27 per cent of those surveyed have been involved in a legal dispute in the last two years.

The questionnaire, which 71 respondents completed, asked UK-based online writers, who publish independently or for sites with fewer than ten employees, to recount their interactions with UK law. The majority of the respondents write about specific topical issues or cover local (or hyperlocal) news. Continue reading →

Posted in academic research, blogging, hyperlocal publishing, press freedom, social media, social networking, survey | Tagged | 12 Comments

Are England’s libel laws relevant in an age of blogging?

Posted on September 15, 2010 by

Speaking on a panel at last night’s Online News Association / Index on Censorship ‘Bloggers in the Dock’ event, Stephens argued for the “innate good sense of crowds”. If a forum or site hosts all forms of opinion “we are then able to make up our minds about the issues of the day.” Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, defamation, events, media law | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Bloggers in the Dock: follow from 6pm

Posted on September 14, 2010 by

Wifi / 3G permitting, I’ll be live-blogging and tweeting from tonight’s ‘Bloggers in the Dock’ event, hosted by the Online News Association UK and the Index on Censorship at the Free Word Centre. You can find details of the event … Continue reading →

Posted in blogging, defamation, digital open justice, events, media law | Tagged , | 3 Comments

A new libel reform symposium chaired by Lord Lester

Posted on September 14, 2010 by

I’ve been working with Connie St Louis at City University London on a new symposium called ‘Reframing Libel’, which will take place on November 4th 2010. Continue reading →

Posted in defamation, events, media law | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Libel and Contempt in an age of ‘search’

Posted on September 13, 2010 by

Could ‘suggested’ search terms, which have been further developed for Google’s Instant feature, count as an online publication in the eyes of the law? Continue reading →

Posted in contempt of court, defamation, digital open justice, media law | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Courting data: an attempt to get better acquainted with England’s law

Posted on September 9, 2010 by

Courts data and information can be difficult to access: is it time to publish more online? Continue reading →

Posted in courts, data, digital open justice, reporting restrictions | Tagged , | 9 Comments