Keep in mind that Private Members bills almost never pass. This will draw attention to the issue, nothing more.
On 27 May 2010 19:48, Michael Peel <em...@mikepeel.net> wrote: > Hi all, > I'm forwarding the email below as it affects Wikimedia a bit, due to the > following (extracted from Anthony Lester's Guardian article): > "The Bill sets out the circumstances in which an internet service provider > or forum host should not be liable for defamatory material and sets time > limits on suing." > > The details can be found online at: > http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2010-11/defamationhl.html > The appropriate section is section 9, "Responsibility for publication". > On the surface, it looks reasonable for Wikimedia (meaning the WMF > primarily, but also WMUK if we ever assist with hosting), as we'd fall > straight under 9.1a as a facilitator and hence would clearly not be liable. > I have to admit to not being familiar with the details of existing law on > this, but presumably it's a lot more unclear. > Mike > Begin forwarded message: > > From: n...@libelreform.org > Date: 27 May 2010 15:31:49 GMT+01:00 > To: libelref...@mikepeel.net > Subject: Big news - Lord Lester has officially tabled a libel reform bill > > > > Dear friends > > > > A Libel Reform Bill has been tabled in the House of Lords > > Lord Lester QC has published a Private Members’ Defamation Bill to > reform England’s outdated and unjust libel laws. This is the first attempt > in over a century to put forward a wholesale redraft of our libel laws to > address many of the issues our campaign has highlighted. > > Lord Lester’s Bill covers a great deal of the recommendations of the Libel > Reform Campaign including a statutory defence for responsible publication on > a matter of public interest; clarifying the defences of justification and > fair comment, which will be renamed as ‘truth’ and ‘honest opinion’. > > The Bill will also: > > require claimants to provide evidence their reputation was damaged by an > alleged libel before they can bring a case forward (they don’t have to do > this at present) and make corporations prove financial damage before they > can sue. > Address the problems introduced by the rise of the internet and the culture > of online publication including the multiple publication rule that makes > each download a fresh instance of libel, and alter the responsibility of > forum hosts for what is posted on their sites. > Encourage the speedy settlement of disputes without parties having to bring > in costly lawyers. > Promote the speedy settlement of disputes without recourse to the courts. > > There is a great piece by Lord Lester on why he is doing this now here. > > And Simon Singh has written his thoughts on the bill here. > > Thanks to your support we’ve made the case that libel law reform is an issue > politicians know they have to act on. > > > > There is widespread Parliamentary support for reform … the majority of > eligible MPs signed up to an EDM supporting libel law reform in the last > Parliament. > > There were general election manifesto commitments to reform from the > Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, and Labour. > > Now, there is a coalition Government promise to reform the libel laws in the > Queen’s Speech … > > > > …But we need new libel laws! > > In light of Lord Lester’s Bill, the Libel Reform Campaign is asking: will > the Government now make clear its plans for reform? Will it support, adopt > or develop this Bill? > > Help us keep the pressure on. Write to your MP asking them what the > Government intends to do. > > Best, > > > > Mike and Síle > > PS - for more details of the bill and complete coverage > see www.libelreform.org > > -- > If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, this link > > To update your preferences and to unsubscribe visit this link > Forward a Message to Someone this link > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia UK mailing list > wikimediau...@wikimedia.org > http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l > WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org > > _______________________________________________ Wikimedia UK mailing list wikimediau...@wikimedia.org http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l WMUK: http://uk.wikimedia.org
