media law

Hunt’s handling of the NewsCorp-BSkyB deal was unlawful

April 25, 2012

Yesterday’s big news was the relevation at the Leveson Inquiry of the e-mails from Frédéric Michel to his NewsCorp colleagues about his contact with Jeremy Hunt, or at least with Jeremy Hunt’s special adviser, while Hunt was preparing to decide whether or not to refer NewsCorp’s bid for BSkyB to the Competition Commission. To recap, […]

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Spelman injunction lifted

February 24, 2012

Jonathan Spelman, the 17-year-old rugby international and son of cabinet minister Caroline Spelman, obtained an injunction earlier this month restraining Express Newspapers – specifically, the Daily Star Sunday – from publishing information about him which, it was argued on his behalf, would breach his right to privacy and have a very significant harmful effect on […]

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Interview with Paul Dixon, Karen Murphy’s solicitor

February 24, 2012

I also spoke briefly today outside court with Karen Murphy’s solicitor, Paul Dixon of Molesworths Bright Clegg. Upload MP3s using free MP3 hosting from Tindeck.

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Karen Murphy speaking to the media

February 24, 2012

Karen Murphy also spoke to the assembled media, as they say, in front of the Royal Courts of Justice – here’s what she said. Upload MP3s using free MP3 hosting from Tindeck.

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Karen Murphy interview

February 24, 2012

Shortly after her conviction was quashed, Karen Murphy spoke to me briefly outside court. Upload MP3s using free MP3 hosting from Tindeck.

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Murphy v Media Protection Services

February 24, 2012

I was at the High Court this morning to see the quashing of Karen Murphy’s conviction under section 297(1) of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act for dishonestly receiving a broadcast with intent to avoid payment. There was no real doubt that this had to be the outcome following the European Court of Justice’s ruling […]

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Supreme Court judgment: Sugar v BBC

February 15, 2012

The Supreme Court has today given judgment in this case, about the extent to which the Freedom of Information Act 2000 applies to information the BBC holds for journalistic purposes. I’m afraid the case has something of the Dickensian about it: Mr. Sugar (a lawyer) asked the BBC to disclose the “Balen report” – an […]

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Strasbourg emphasises subsidiarity in freedom of expression rulings

February 14, 2012

Last week the European Court of Human Rights handed down two important rulings in media privacy cases, Von Hannover v Germany (No. 2) and Axel Springer AG v Germany. These cases, in both of which the Court favoured freedom of expression over privacy, would be interesting in any circumstances. What’s especially striking, though, against the […]

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Without Prejudice

February 10, 2012

David Allen Green returns to Without Prejudice this week, I’m pleased to say, and Dr. Evan Harris is back with us too. Charon QC chairs as always, as we discuss the Leveson inquiry at the end of “Module 1” – what has it achieved and what do we want to come out of it? – […]

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“Prior protection”: Davies and Campbell are right

December 2, 2011

Alistair Campbell blogged yesterday about his appearance and evidence to the Leveson inquiry. He had plenty to say, but I won’t repeat it – read the transcript of his evidence, and the statement he provided. What interests me especially is what he writes in that blogpost about the regime of regulation that should replace the […]

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