Privacy and Libel Law The Clash with Press Freedom

"Paul Tweed enjoys unrivalled expertise and experience in the field of media law. He has drawn extensively on that experience in producing a magisterial, insightful account of defamation and privacy law in the United States, the United Kingdom and Europe. Despite its scholarship and attention to detail, this book is highly readable and instantly accessible even to those unfamiliar with this area of law."  Right Hon the Lord Kerr of Tonaghmore, Justice of the Supreme Court

"A wise man once said 'Never pick a fight with someone who buys their ink by the barrel....unless they have lied and you have Paul Tweed on your side'. Paul is quite simply the best. This book proves why."  Patrick Kielty, 2012

"Paul Tweed and I usually oppose one another, but this is an insightful book built on Paul’s extensive knowledge & experience. Anyone with an interest in this area of law should buy Privacy and Libel Law: The Clash with Press Freedom."  Mark Stephens of Finers Stephens Innocent, 2012

"The real inside story: a thoughtful, trenchant, gripping analysis of what happens when and why the media gets it wrong."  Neville Johnson, Founding Partner of Johnson & Johnson LLP, 2012

• Examines the need to protect personal reputation/privacy while at the same time safeguarding genuine investigative journalism
• Assesses whether the UK’s privacy/libel laws are sufficient to control the excesses of the press (such as phone hacking)
• Seeks to explain why the press is so hostile to UK media laws
• Analyses why celebrities choose to sue for libel in London rather than New York

  This new title covers the law surrounding freedom of press versus rights of the individual, including in depth analysis of the review of UK libel law and the draft Defamation Bill published in March 2011.

Contents includes:

• History and development of libel laws in the UK and USA;
• Actions brought by US personalities in the UK Courts;
• The ramifications of the Rachel Ehrenfeld case;
• Importance of striking a balance between an unfettered press reporting in the public interest and one-sided coverage of particular issues;
• The argument for statutory press regulation;
• Level of damages awarded in comparison to costs involved;
• Super-injunctions;
• Anticipated changes to the law;
• Alternative remedies;
• Difficulties facing Claimants without access to legal aid;
• Implications arising from the phone hacking scandal