Federal Court rules that the Australian Communications and Media Authority has the power to find radio station 2Day FM breached its licence during a prank call, but its finding that the station committed a criminal offence is not binding … more
Year: 2013
Working both sides of Libel Street
Kim Williams lawyers-up against the newspaper his lawyers used to defend … Opera House hissy fit denied … Richard Ackland reports ... more
Kim Ahmed v Harbour Radio Pty Ltd & Ray Hadley
The wife of a man convicted of aggravated indecent assault against a 17-year-old girl accuses Ray Hadley of conducting a “hate campaign” on air … Sex, lies, outrage and Hadley himself appear in court ... more
Facebook’s volte-face: Its changing stance on videos showing graphic content
Facebook recently lifted the temporary ban it imposed on a video showing the beheading of a woman … In this Inforrm article, Rhory Robertson and Sophie Pugh examine the social networking site’s censorship policy ... more
Filming ban lifted at UK Appeal Court
A near-90-year ban on filming in court has been lifted in what has been hailed as a “landmark moment for justice and journalism” … Media Lawyer’s Mike Dodd reports … more
Question Time – Justin Quill
More of News Corp Australia’s media law business has recently gone to boutique Melbourne firm Kelly Hazel Quill … In this interview, principal Justin Quill shares his views on defamation law and practice, privacy, media regulation, journalistic ethics, protection of sources and the future media landscape ... more
Justin Quill – Part Two
Born Brands Pty Ltd & Ors v Nine Network Australia Pty Ltd & Ors
Baby killer, or not? A Brisbane woman who designed a baby “sleep positioner” sues Channel Nine over a news story which said they were potentially dangerous … The plaintiff does herself no favours under cross-examination ... more
Tim Visscher v Maritime Union of Australia
Captain Invincible … Ship’s Master sues the Maritime Union of Australia over a website post alleging he was incompetent and endangered the lives of his crew … Allegations of “bad reputation” surface ... more
Media Law Resource Center Conference, London 2013
The Media Law Resource Center conference is known for heightened discussion of the issues of the day … Fairfax Media’s in-house counsel Richard Coleman reports that Lord Leveson was wise to decline an invitation ... more
IP news here, and there
Australia’s Innovation Patent System under review … Along with the current Designs System … BitTorrent search engine announces closure in face of litigation … “Podcasting patent” to be tested in suit ... more
The Defamation Act 2013: What difference will it really make?
The new UK Defamation Act received Royal Assent in April this year, but is yet to commence … In this paper, presented at the recent Media Law Resource Center (MLRC) conference in London, David Hooper, Brid Jordan, Kim Waite and Oliver Murphy look at what difference it will make for publishers and practitioners ... more