Judicial Statistics

2016: Issued defamation claims down by 17%, lowest recorded number in modern times, Inforrm Blog, 6 June 2017
https://inforrm.wordpress.com/2017/06/06/judicial-statistics-2016-issued-defamation-claims-down-by-17-lowest-recorded-number-for-any-year-for-which-records-are-available/

The Defamation Act 2013

There has been an enormous amount of discussion online about the Defamation Act 2013. It is worth taking the time to have a look at some of the commentary, though you should be aware of who is writing (the debate was very polarised and not all comments will be impartial) and when the person is writing as the law changed during the legislative process. Here is just a snap shot:

You can read the text of the Act here
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/26/contents/enacted

You can follow the progress of the Act here
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2012-13/defamation.html

Ministry of Justice press release, “Defamation Act reforms libel law”, 25 April 2013
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/defamation-act-reforms-libel-law

The Inforrm Blog

The Inforrm’s Blog (http://inforrm.wordpress.com/) has a large number of articles on the Defamation Act (as well as discussion of defamation and privacy cases and media law generally)

Defamation Act 2013, commencement and some initial reactions, 3 May 2013
http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/defamation-act-2013-commencement-and-some-initial-reactions/

News: Defamation Act 2013 receives Royal Assent, 26 April 2013
http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2013/04/26/news-defamation-act-2013-receives-royal-assent/

Timothy Pinto, ‘Defamation Act 2013: A boost for free speech – Part 1: Serious Harm, Truth and Honest opinion’, 21 May 2013
http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/defamation-act-2013-a-boost-for-free-speech-part-1-serious-harm-truth-and-honest-opinion-timothy-pinto/

Timothy Pinto, ‘Defamation Act 2013: A boost for free speech, Part 2: Public Interest and Privilege’, 22 May 2013
http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2013/05/22/defamation-act-2013-a-boost-for-free-speech-part-2-privilege-timothy-pinto/

Timothy Pinto, ‘Defamation Act 2013: A boost for free speech, Part 3: Intermediary liability’, 23 May 2013
http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2013/05/23/defamation-act-2013-a-boost-for-free-speech-part-3-intermediary-liability-timothy-pinto/

Timothy Pinto, ‘Defamation Act 2013 – A boost for free speech – Part 4: Single publication rule, forum shopping and juries, 24 May 2013
http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/defamation-act-2013-a-boost-for-free-speech-part-4-single-publication-rule-forum-shopping-and-juries-timothy-pinto/

The Index on Censorship blog

Index on Censorship is an international organisation that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression. It played a key role in debates surrounding the enactment of the Defamation Act. Here are just a few related posts:  

Padraig Reidy, ‘Libel Act to commence “before end of year”’ Index on Censorship blog, 13 June 2013
http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/06/libel-act-to-commence-before-end-of-year/

Padraig Reidy, ‘Victory for free speech as libel bill passes’, Index on Censorship blog, 24 April 2013
http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2013/04/libel-reform-bill-passes/

Other reaction in the press

Dominic Ponsford, ‘Defamation Bill passed: 'It will change the landscape of free speech in Britain’, Press Gazette, 25 April 2013
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/defamation-bill-passed-it-will-change-landscape-free-speech-britain

Lisa O’Carroll, ‘Government U-turn on defamation bill heralds libel reform victory’, The Guardian, 22 April 2013
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/apr/22/government-uturn-defamation-bill-reform-victory

Oliver Wright, ‘Blow to freedom of speech as key libel reform the Defamation Bill is blocked’, The Independent, 15 April 2013
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/blow-to-freedom-of-speech-as-key-libel-reform-the-defamation-bill-is-blocked-8574218.html

On libel reform generally

The Defamation Act 2013 is the culmination of a long campaign to reform the English libel laws.

The libel reform campaign
http://libelreform.org/

Libel reform – Guardian law pages
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/libel-reform

Dara O'Briain and friends at the Big Libel Gig
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY86CU44WGg

Defamation Bill: Prof Brian Cox on libel law changes, 27 June 2012
Professor Brian Cox and the comedian Dara O' Briain have been to Downing Street to deliver a petition to make changes to the Defamation Bill. Brian Cox talks on the BBC’s Daily Politics Show.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18611977

Speech by Lord Hoffmann ‘The Libel Tourism Myth’ (6 February 2010)
http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2010/02/the-libel-tourism-myth/

And comment from Nick Cohen
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/07/nick-cohen-law-courts-libel

Cases in the news and legal blogs

Frances Perraudin, Ex-Ukip councillor ordered to pay £80,000 in damages to Rotherham MPs, The Guardian, 1 June 2016

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jun/01/ukip-councillor-damages-rotherham-mps-caven-vines

BBC News, ‘High Court: Sally Bercow's Lord McAlpine tweet was libel’, 24 May 2013 (on McAlpine v Bercow)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-22652083

BBC News, ‘Lord McAlpine drops some Twitter defamation cases’, 21 February 2013 (on McAlpine v Bercow)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21534398

BBC NEWS, ‘'Revenge porn' site owner Hunter Moore sued for defamation’, 11 March 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21740386

BBC News, ‘X Factor judge Louis Walsh settles 500,000 euro defamation case’, 28 November 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20524505

BBC NEWS, ‘Nature journal libel victory prompts libel reform call’, 6 July 2012
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18743472

Hugh Tomlinson, ‘Case Comment: Flood v Times Newspapers [2012] UKSC 12, Court allows “Reynolds” appeal’, UKSC Blog, 21 March 2012
http://ukscblog.com/case-comment-flood-v-times-newspapers-2012-uksc-12-court-allows-reynolds-appeal

Siobhain Butterworth, ‘Flood v The Times: Reynolds privilege defence is back’. The Guadian, 21 March 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/mar/21/flood-times-reynolds-privilege-defence

Katie Price agrees to pay Peter Andre libel damages, 2, December 2011
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/16002100

Inforrm blog poston Joseph v Spiller
http://inforrm.wordpress.com/2010/06/11/case-law-spiller-v-joseph-media-seek-permission-to-intervene/

Supreme court changes fair comment defence in libel cases (on Joseph v Spiller)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/dec/01/supreme-court-fair-comment-libel-defence-change

Simon Singh wins libel court battle – with video clip (on British Chiropractic Association v Singh)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/apr/01/simon-singh-wins-libel-court

Chiropractors' libel case dropped against Simon Singh (on British Chiropractic Association v Singh)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8621880.stm

Book author wins historic libel case (On the application of the Reynolds defence)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7040425.stm

BBC ordered to pay £500,000 costs (On the application of the Reynolds defence)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7659851.stm

Landmark decision for 'free speech' (On Jameel [2007] and Reynolds)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6046152.stm

Beckham pays out in slander row (McManus v Beckham [2002])
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2839319.stm

Paper welcomes Grobbelaar ruling (Grobbelaar v News Group Newspapers [2002])
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1123673.stm

On Monroe v Hopkins [2017]

BBC News video discussing the case
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39237788

A blog post on Monroe v Hopkins:
https://thinkinglegally.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/monroe-v-hopkins-libel-case-warby-retrograde-judgment/

BBC news, ‘Katie Hopkins cannot appeal Jack Monroe libel tweet case’, 29 March 2017
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-39437724

On McLibel

On This Day: 19 June1997: Victory for McDonald's - at a cost – this site includes BBC video clips of the verdict against McDonalds.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/june/19/newsid_2516000/2516301.stm

'McLibel' pair win legal aid case – including video on the background to the case
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4266209.stm

This website tells the story of the McLibel litigation and includes transcripts of the trial
www.mcspotlight.org

Cases

We still find the inforrm blog is best place to keep up to date with the –many – defamation (and privacy) cases: http://inforrm.wordpress.com/

Flood v Times Newspapers [2012]
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2012/11.pdf

Reynolds v Times Newspaper [2001]
www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/1999/45.html

Joseph v Spiller [2010]
http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/2010/53.html

British Chiropractic Association v Singh [2010]
http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2010/350.html