Data Protection

23.06.20

High Court sets very high bar for harassment by publication claims against the press

In Sube & Anor v News Group Newspapers Ltd & Anor (Rev 1) [2020] EWHC 1125 (QB) the High Court emphatically rejected a claim for harassment against media organisations.  The case highlights the difficulties faced by claimants in harassment proceedings against media organisations, as it must be found that the conduct by the media organisation…

2.06.20

High Court strikes out parts of HRH The Duchess of Sussex’s claim against The Mail on Sunday

In HRH The Duchess of Sussex v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2020] EWHC 1058 (Ch), the High Court struck out parts of the Duchess’ claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (‘ANL’), the publisher of The Mail on Sunday and operator of the MailOnline website. Background The Duchess’ claim is for misuse of private information, breach of the…

22.05.20

Press Release: NoFap LLC and Alexander Rhodes secure substantial libel damages and apology from Scram News

Scram Media Limited and two of its contributors have apologised and agreed to pay defamation damages to US-based NoFap LLC and its founder Alexander Rhodes after publishing an article on ScramNews.com titled “Academic receives “death threats” from far-right after crowdfunding campaign to sue her.” NoFap runs an online pornography recovery platform that enables users to…

7.05.20

COVID-19 Contact tracing apps and your right to privacy

Contact tracing apps are being developed and rolled out by many countries around the world, including the UK, as a tool in the global fight to control the spread of coronavirus.  The UK government has announced that it intends to introduce a contract tracing app later in May, and trials are being conducted this week…

8.04.20

Thomas Otter joins Brett Wilson’s Media and Communications Law team

Thomas Otter has joined Brett Wilson LLP’s Media and Communications Law team. Thomas is an Australian qualified lawyer practicing in London.  He has advised and acted in a large range of media disputes, and regularly advised defendant media organisations on pre and post publication matters whilst practicing in Australia. For Thomas’ full biography, please click…

Brett Wilson LLP listed as a top 20 London specialist firm in Legal 500 survey on client service

Brett Wilson LLP has been identified by the Legal 500/Legalese as having one of the highest levels of client service amongst London specialist firms. The survey of the UK’s legal profession, saw 60,000 clients interviewed.  The results of the survey showed that clients felt specialist boutique firms tended to provide a better quality of service…

7.04.20

Civil justice system remains open for business despite COVID-19 restrictions

While much of our society is embarking on a forced sabbatical, there has been no respite in the world of litigation.  In this article, we consider some of the questions those contemplating, or already involved in, legal proceedings will undoubtedly be asking. This article is intended to provide an overview of the current position.  Details…

1.01.20

ICO hands down its first fine under the GDPR

On 17 December 2019 the Information Commissioner’s Office (‘the ICO’), the UK’s independent regulator for data protection and information rights, fined a London pharmacy £275,000 for failing to ensure the security of personal data, including ‘special category’ data.  This is the first administrative fine to be handed down by the ICO under the new data…

27.11.19

Claimant who refused to tell the court or his opponent who he was runs out of track

In ABC v Google LLC [2019] EWHC 3020 (QB) the High Court dismissed the latest attempt by an anonymous litigant-in-person (‘ABC’) to continue his ‘right to be forgotten’ claim against Google.  The claim concerned Google’s failure to block access to historic news reports concerning ABC (whomever he may be).  Extraordinarily, ABC pursued his claim for…

22.10.19

Injunction granted in STI blackmail case

Often it can be difficult to predict with any certainty whether a Court will grant interim injunctive relief.  Combine, however, an extremely wealthy claimant, the subject matter of his sex life, a freely entered into confidentiality agreement, the absence of a genuine public interest, a blackmail threat and Adam Speker, the barrister who is fast-becoming…