Volume IV

Issue : 7: April 6, 2006

• Shaw Sued by U.S. Competitor over Vetoed TV Ad
• Good News in the World of Patents for Google Earth
• Stem Cell Research Opponents Enjoined From Violating Copyright
• Illinois Court Tough on Wi-Fi Bandit
• Ontario Judge Concludes Time Spent on Research Excessive in Electronic Age
• Legality of Internet Archive at Issue
• Travel Websites Sued over Hotel Occupancy Taxes
• Gratis Internet Sued for Massive Privacy Violations
• U.S. Federal Court Finds Use of Competitors Marks as Keywords in Online Advertising not Trademark Infringement
• UK Politician Wins Internet Defamation Lawsuit
• B.C. Court Awards Damages and Permanent Injunction in Cyberlibel Lawsuit

Home > Volume IV > Issue 7: April 6, 2006 > UK Politician Wins Internet Defamation Lawsuit

UK Politician Wins Internet Defamation Lawsuit

Michael Keith Smith of the UK Independence Party sued Tracy Williams for libel, after Ms. Williams posted several derogatory remarks in an Internet chat room operated by Yahoo.

Williams’ remarks stem from her dissatisfaction with Smith’s 2003 comments that he was in favour of the Iraq war. The accusations leveled against Smith included claims that he was a racist, pervert and a sexual deviant, guilty of sexual offences including sexually harassing a co-worker and soliciting boys. Williams’ remarks were made under a pseudonym. In 2004, Smith obtained a court order forcing Yahoo to reveal the identity of the poster and subsequently brought forward his case to the High Court, claiming that Williams had continued to abuse him online.

Presiding Judge Alistair MacDuff ordered Ms. Williams to pay £5,000 general damages, plus £5,000 for aggravated damages, and granted Smith an injunction preventing further publication of the same or similar defamatory remarks. Additionally, Ms. Williams, who did not file a defence, was ordered to pay costs in the amount of £7,200.

For additional information, visit:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/060323/152/g77z6.html