Libel reform bill to tackle 'libel tourism'
The government plans to prevent claims stemming from online publication and protect investigative journalism

by Owen Bowcott
The Guardian
March 23, 2010

http://www.legal-project.org/677/libel-reform-bill-to-tackle-libel-tourism

Excerpt:

Foreign claimants will find it more difficult to initiate libel cases in UK courts and a "public interest" defence should be introduced to protect investigative journalism, under reforms unveiled by the government today.

The legal proposals – which will also prevent multiple defamation claims based on repeated downloadings of the same online story – were announced in a written ministerial statement by the justice secretary,Jack Straw.

Aimed at combating the "chilling effect" of Britain's strict libel laws, the changes will be included in a libel reform bill to be introduced into parliament if Labour is returned to government after the general election.

The recommendations build on the findings of the libel working group, a body established by the Ministry of Justice earlier this year. The group's report is published today.

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