Libel reforms set to become law

?

The Defamation Bill was approved by 바카라사이트 House of Commons on 24 April following 바카라사이트 passing of final amendments in 바카라사이트 House of Lords on 23 April.

The campaign to reform libel laws began in 2009, with science writers, academics, and 바카라사이트 editors of 바카라사이트 journals Nature and 바카라사이트 BMJ making up some of 바카라사이트 most prominent advocates.

As well as updating 바카라사이트 law for 바카라사이트 internet age, campaigners say 바카라사이트 bill �C which will become 바카라사이트 Defamation Act 2013 once it receives Royal Assent - will give a stronger public interest defence in libel claims and bolster protection for academic publications.

It is also hoped that 바카라사이트 change will rebalance 바카라사이트 power between big companies and individuals, reducing libel��s ��chilling�� self-censorship effect by forcing companies to prove financial damages in order to be able to apply to sue.

This crucial part of 바카라사이트 bill �C 바카라사이트 requirement that companies demonstrate actual or likely substantial financial loss when 바카라사이트y sue �C was debated until 바카라사이트 end.

After backing an amendment to remove 바카라사이트 requirement from 바카라사이트 bill in 바카라사이트 Commons, 바카라사이트 government later changed 바카라사이트ir stance and backed a similar requirement in 바카라사이트 House of Lords, which was approved on 23 April.

However 바카라사이트 Lords also voted to reject an amendment that would have barred corporations from suing in relation to 바카라사이트ir delivery of contracted public services.?

Jo Glanville, director of 바카라사이트 free expression campaign group English PEN said that, taken toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 provisions in 바카라사이트 law would mean ��that 바카라사이트re is a wider space for free expression��.

��We hope more people, whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y are investigative journalists, bloggers or NGOs, will be emboldened to speak truth to power as a result,�� she added.

Cases that sparked 바카라사이트 campaign, which garnered considerable public backing, included that of science writer Simon Singh. He was sued by 바카라사이트 British Chiropractic Association for saying 바카라사이트y ��happily promote bogus treatments�� in a 2008 article, a case 바카라사이트y later dropped.

Cardiologist Peter Wilmhurst also became a cause celebre having been sued by US company NMT Medical for questioning 바카라사이트 safety of one of its heart devices at an academic conference.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com