The NYT today reports on the UK's Demon Internet paying
a wad of money to Laurence Godfrey, a physicist allegedly
libeled on a news group, soc.culture.thai, first on January 12,
1997, there again later, and subsequently on uk.legal.
Phill Hallam-Baker is mentioned as having been required
in a separate 1994 case to pay a "substantial" amount to
Godfrey for libel.
All this took place under strict British libel law. US experts say
that such cases would be very difficult to win under US law.
Questions are raised about whether US ISPs might be
liable for damages if libelous messages are posted that are
available in the UK. Legal advice to such ISPs is to own
no property in the UK or it will be at risk.
Which leads me to ask if anyone archived the libelous
messages which riled Godfrey.
Phill, whatever did you say about your thin-skinned litigous
colleague?
