Google has lost a High Court appeal in defamation litigation brought by Michael Trkulja. It is time to consider that extending “safe harbour” to Google may be a good idea.
Twenty years ago, a Texas court decided Winfrey hadn’t defamed the state’s cattle industry. At the time, local media struggled to explain the science at stake in the case.
The trend of politicians suing other politicians is worrisome since it risks limiting free speech. But there’s a solution at hand known as anti-SLAPP legislation.
Rebel Wilson’s large damages award for defamation is a salutary lesson that defaming a celebrity with an international profile can lead to a substantial payout for the economic harm done.
In many cases, a reference will contain negative things about its subject. This is part of a reference’s design: the referee should give a full and frank assessment.
Is it defamatory to ‘name and shame’ alleged rapists? Absolutely, according to South African law – and those who share that information on social media are liable too.
Hockey v Fairfax illustrates that recent legal and technological developments still pose challenges for defamation law, which has not been reformed to keep pace with these changes.
The elephant in the room in the just-concluded defamation case between Joe Hockey and Fairfax Media was the actual story being attacked. Media organisations ought to be able to instigate the debate without fear of reprisals by litigious politicians.