60 international NGOs to UK government: Protect us, strengthen libel law reforms

October 9th, 2012

The following letter calling for greater defamation law reform, including limiting corporations ability to use libel law to silence civil society critics, was coordinated by Index on Censorship and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange network (IFEX)
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Corporations don’t have feelings, so why should they be able to sue for libel?

September 21st, 2012

Major companies have alternatives to litigation, says Mike Harris. With PR teams and big advertising budgets they can easily counter false claims or unfair criticism (more…)

A critical autumn for freedom of speech

September 12th, 2012

After years of campaigning, we have the chance to pass defamation laws that are fit for the 21st century. We cannot miss this opportunity, says Jo Glanville (more…)

Britain’s half-hearted bid to reform libel law

July 25th, 2012

The Defamation Bill is an achievement, but more must be done to reform England’s libel laws and encourage debate in the public interest, says Rachel Ehrenfeld
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UK: Nature wins three-year libel battle

July 6th, 2012

Scientific journal Nature won a libel claim today that has lasted three years. Egyptian scientist Mohamed El Naschie had argued the journal had defamed him in a November 2008 story, which alleged he used his editorial privilege to self-publish numerous papers he had written and which would not have been published elsewhere due to poor quality and lack of peer review. At the High Court today Mrs Justice Sharp rejected El Naschie’s claim, accepting the defendants’ defences of justification, honest comment and the Reynolds privilege for responsible journalism on a matter of public interest.

Libel reform is no joke

June 29th, 2012

Comics Dara Ó Briain and Dave Gorman and scientist Professor Brian Cox joined Index and the Libel Reform Campaign at Downing Street to demand a public interest defence in the defamation bill

There must be a new public interest defence in the Defamation Bill, scientists, entertainers and campaigners tell Government

June 27th, 2012

Libel reform comes around less often than Halley’s comet. Let’s get it right

June 27th, 2012

The defamation bill will do little to stop corporations suing individuals and should include a public interest defence says Index’s Mike Harris
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