Month: April 2017

12.04.17

Libel/Defamation: Melania Trump wins libel damages from Daily Mail for 'escort' allegation

First Lady Melania Trump has succeeded in her libel claim against the Daily Mail after the newspaper’s publishers have apologised and agreed to pay her damages and costs. During 2016’s election campaign the Daily Mail and the Mail Online published an allegation that Mrs Trump had once worked as an escort.  It also suggested that…

11.04.17

Cyber-fraud piracy case thrown out

Brett Wilson LLP has successfully defended an individual at Nottingham Crown Court who had been charged with multiple counts of fraud and money laundering in relation to a number of websites which he owned and operated. The Investigation The Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) reported three of the Defendant’s websites to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit.  The websites…

New sentencing guidelines for ‘intimidatory offences’: Sentencing is one small piece of the jigsaw.

On 30 March 2017 the Sentencing Guidelines Council (SGC) launched a 13-week consultation on the punishments for several different offences arising from legislation spanning 150 years. It includes all of the following offences:- Disclosing private images (‘revenge porn’) contrary to section 33 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 Controlling and Coercive Behaviour contrary…

3.04.17

Data-gathering sex toy manufacturer pays out $4 million in class action settlement

Standard Innovation Corporation, a Canadian company which manufactures an internet-enabled sex toy under the We-Vibe brand, has reached a settlement in a class action in which it was alleged that it collected and stored intimate data without the consent of the customer. The We-Vibe sex toys are designed to be used with the We-Connect smartphone app…