Posted on 11/11/2009 2:29:54 PM PST by knighthawk
Libel tourism isn’t just a matter for the media elite. Freedom of speech for everyone is in danger
Britain is a pariah state, shunned by its allies and exploited by the unsavoury. The state of English libel laws (Scotland’s provisions are a little better) is so embarrassing that a number of US states have enacted legislation to protect their citizens from our courts. London is the global centre of libel tourism. From Middle Eastern potentates to Russian oligarchs, the rich and powerful use our legal system to bully people who try to hold them to account.
Sometimes cases make the courts; more often individuals, authors, newspapers or charities involved are forced to apologise even when they know they have done nothing wrong. This is the big chill. This has gone far beyond the rights of the media. It affects people in all walks of life. Thanks to the UK, abuses around the world are hushed up, for fear of what might happen if a single copy of a publication, even if it originated abroad, is found in Britain.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
If people want on or off this list, please let me know.
Yeah, let’s see a little “libel tourism in London” by Rush Limbaugh, against CNN and that left-wing New York law firm where the libels originated.
Our libel laws shame us
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/nov/10/libel-tourism-law-reform
Prime example: Auchi, ex-Iraqi billionaire, convicted on oil-for-food corruption who funded Rezko (remember him ?) who in turn aided Obama’s purchase of a mansion in Chicago amongst other things.
Another story barely mentioned in the campaign.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.