Michael and all,
n I see this UK decision as a good sign. All we need now is a similar
one
in the US. It is this kind of nonsense that our own dear William X
practices of a regular occasion that needs to be curtailed. Such
legal decisions in the UK may help the US to take notice in our
justice system, and hopefully soon. Than we can get a handle
on such people like WIlliam X. Walsh to curtail his questionable
net speak.
Michael Sondow wrote:
> (Reposted from the cyberia-L mailing list.)
>
> For Immediate Release - 26 March, 1999
>
> CR&CL (UK) Press Release - UK ISP found liable for defamation
>
> LEEDS - This morning Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK) criticised
> a
> High Court ruling involving liability for defamatory statements made
> by a third party against Demon Internet.
>
> Demon Internet, a major UK ISP is more likely to be found liable for
> defamation in a case against Dr. Laurence Godfrey, a London-based
> nuclear physicist. Demon will appeal against today's pre-trial court
> ruling by Mr Justice Morland in London's High Court.
>
> According to a press release by Demon Internet, "the point of law
> being decided centres around whether Demon Internet, an Internet
> Service Provider, is responsible for the information that is posted
> to
> and made available from newsgroups that are held on Demon Internet's
> servers." It should also be noted that the case arises out of a
> posting made by an unknown individual in the US, and not by a Demon
> Internet customer.
>
> Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK) believes that this decision will
> have a profound effect on cyber-speech and UK ISPs will be forced to
> monitor and censor third party content going through their servers.
> The ruling, if not reversed on appeal would make Britain, a very
> hostile place for network development in the Information Age.
>
> Mr. Yaman Akdeniz, Director of Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK)
> stated that:
>
> "The decision will have a chilling effect over the Internet
> communications and will force the UK ISPs to take a pro-active role
> in
> relation to Internet content. This is most undesirable and
> unacceptable. The Defamation Act does not give adequate protection
> to
> the ISPs and unfortunately the ISPs remain as the `usual suspects'
> when civil claims through defamation suits are brought against
> them."
>
> "It is also totally unacceptable that an offended party should
> simply
> notify an Internet Service Provider claiming the information to be
> legally defamatory. The current state of the UK laws forces the ISPs
> to be the defendant, judge, and the jury at the same time. Notice
> should not be enough in such cases."
>
> Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK) will support Demon's case during
> the appeal process.
>
> Notes For the Media:
>
> This press release will be available through at
> http://www.cyber-rights.org/press/
Regards,
--
Jeffrey A. Williams
CEO/DIR. Internet Network Eng/SR. Java/CORBA Development Eng.
Information Network Eng. Group. INEG. INC.
E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Contact Number: 972-447-1894
Address: 5 East Kirkwood Blvd. Grapevine Texas 75208
