Libel Laws Used To Curb Web Protests

Rowdy Ray writes "Big businesses are using Britain's libel laws to shut down websites set up by disgruntled customers or protest groups, a report by the Government's advisers on law reform has found."

Comments

Re:Not much new here

[leviramsey]

US libel laws are similar to those in the UK

With your first statement, you demonstrate that you know nothing about this matter. I won't even bother reading the rest of your post after that bit of idiocy.

There is a substantial difference between American and British libel laws. If you are a public figure (and most big corps would be considered such under the law), under American law, and you sue for libel or slander, you must demonstrate that:

• the statements in question are untrue
• the publisher or speaker acted with malice
• there was damage arising from those statements

OTOH, the British laws require that the publisher or speaker demonstrate that they are not damaging or untrue. In essence British libel law considers the accused guilty until proven innocent.