https://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&feed=atom&action=historyWhatDoTheyKnow Response to Draft Defamation Bill Consultation - Revision history2024-03-28T17:31:14ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.39.3https://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=25063&oldid=prevJohn Cross at 05:39, 24 April 20132013-04-24T05:39:41Z<p></p>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>See also blog post at : http://www.mysociety.org/2011/04/04/whatdotheyknow-on-libel-reform/</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>See also blog post at : http://www.mysociety.org/2011/04/04/whatdotheyknow-on-libel-reform/</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The outcome is summarised in [http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2013/apr/23/lords-pass-defamation-bill Lords Pass Defamation Bill]</ins></div></td></tr>
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</table>John Crosshttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21175&oldid=prevJohn Cross: Protected "WhatDoTheyKnow Response to Draft Defamation Bill Consultation": represents text of a response ([edit=sysop] (indefinite) [move=sysop] (indefinite))2011-04-09T10:34:34Z<p>Protected "<a href="/foiwiki/index.php/WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation" title="WhatDoTheyKnow Response to Draft Defamation Bill Consultation">WhatDoTheyKnow Response to Draft Defamation Bill Consultation</a>": represents text of a response ([edit=sysop] (indefinite) [move=sysop] (indefinite))</p>
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</td></tr></table>John Crosshttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21174&oldid=prevJohn Cross at 10:33, 9 April 20112011-04-09T10:33:37Z<p></p>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to the consultation currently being run by the department on the Draft Defamation Bill. This response is on behalf of the team responsible for the WhatDoTheyKnow.com website. We would like to comment on three areas of the proposals:</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to the consultation currently being run by the department on the Draft Defamation Bill. This response is on behalf of the team responsible for the WhatDoTheyKnow.com website. We would like to comment on three areas of the proposals:</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;"> • </del>The extension of privilege</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">*</ins>The extension of privilege</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>===THE EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGE===</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>===THE EXTENSION OF PRIVILEGE===</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The Derbyshire Principle has been extended to prevent a political party from pursuing a defamation claim. In Goldsmith v. Bhoyrul (1997), the court found that in relation to statements about political parties “Defamation actions or threat of them would constitute a fetter on free speech at a time and on a topic when it is clearly in the public interest that there should be none”.[1]</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The Derbyshire Principle has been extended to prevent a political party from pursuing a defamation claim. In Goldsmith v. Bhoyrul (1997), the court found that in relation to statements about political parties “Defamation actions or threat of them would constitute a fetter on free speech at a time and on a topic when it is clearly in the public interest that there should be none”.[1]</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>We support the proposals for the new defences and hope that they will have the effect of reducing the threat of libel actions against and by those participating in the democratic process be they candidates, donors, political parties, referendum campaigns or other interested parties.</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>We support the proposals for the new defences and hope that they will have the effect of reducing the threat of libel actions against and by those participating in the democratic process be they candidates, donors, political parties, referendum campaigns or other interested parties.</div></td></tr>
</table>John Crosshttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21173&oldid=prevJohn Cross at 10:32, 9 April 20112011-04-09T10:32:44Z<p></p>
<a href="https://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21173&oldid=21091">Show changes</a>John Crosshttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21091&oldid=prevRichard Taylor at 18:02, 4 April 20112011-04-04T18:02:10Z<p></p>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to this consultation by the team responsible for mySociety's Freedom of Information website WhatDoTheyKnow.com</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to this consultation by the team responsible for mySociety's Freedom of Information website WhatDoTheyKnow.com</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The response <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">is to be </del>sent to defamation@justice.gsi.gov.uk</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The response <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">has been </ins>sent to defamation@justice.gsi.gov.uk</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">See also blog post at : http://www.mysociety.org/2011/04/04/whatdotheyknow-on-libel-reform/</ins></div></td></tr>
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</table>Richard Taylorhttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21090&oldid=prevRichard Taylor: /* The Extension of the "Derbyshire Principle": public bodies */2011-04-04T15:34:25Z<p><span dir="auto"><span class="autocomment">The Extension of the "Derbyshire Principle": public bodies</span></span></p>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The principle that any governmental body should be open to uninhibited public criticism, and therefore should not be able to use or threaten use defamation law to quash its critics ought be extended to apply to all public bodies, again this could <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">use </del>the definition of public bodies as applies with FOI/EIR legislation. </div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The principle that any governmental body should be open to uninhibited public criticism, and therefore should not be able to use or threaten use defamation law to quash its critics ought be extended to apply to all public bodies, again this could <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">be based on </ins>the definition of public bodies as applies with FOI/EIR legislation. </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Such a provision could be seen as a mere clarification of the current position; our view is that it would be desirable to see the current uncertainty over how widely the "Derbyshire Principle" applies clarified by Parliament and not left to a court.</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Such a provision could be seen as a mere clarification of the current position; our view is that it would be desirable to see the current uncertainty over how widely the "Derbyshire Principle" applies clarified by Parliament and not left to a court.</div></td></tr>
</table>Richard Taylorhttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21089&oldid=prevRichard Taylor: /* The Extension of privilege: public bodies */2011-04-04T15:30:44Z<p><span dir="auto"><span class="autocomment">The Extension of privilege: public bodies</span></span></p>
<table style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122;" data-mw="interface">
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<td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">← Older revision</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 17:30, 4 April 2011</td>
</tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l30">Line 30:</td>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>WhatDoTheyKnow.com has had to remove a FOI response from its website following serious threats of libel action. </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>WhatDoTheyKnow.com has had to remove a FOI response from its website following serious threats of libel action. </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Any new provision ought not be limited to information released under the "Freedom of Information Act", as there is a range of access to information legislation, and information pro-actively released by public bodies ought also be covered. The definition of public bodies used could though, for simplicity, be the same as those covered by the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations. (Though we consider there are [[http://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php/Organisations_and_officials_with_public_responsibilities_that_are_not_subject_to_the_Freedom_of_Information_Act|bodies and individuals with substantial public responsibilities that are not subject to the FOIA]])</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Any new provision ought not be limited to information released under the "Freedom of Information Act", as there is a range of access to information legislation, and information pro-actively released by public bodies ought also be covered. The definition of public bodies used could though, for simplicity, be the same as those covered by the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations. (Though we consider there are [[http://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php/Organisations_and_officials_with_public_responsibilities_that_are_not_subject_to_the_Freedom_of_Information_Act |bodies and individuals with substantial public responsibilities that are not subject to the FOIA]])</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a simple but important change. It could be seen to a large extent as a clarification of the existing legal position, but it would be desirable for Parliament to explicitly clarify the law rather than see a journalist, campaigner or website operator be subjected to an expensive and time consuming legal action. </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a simple but important change. It could be seen to a large extent as a clarification of the existing legal position, but it would be desirable for Parliament to explicitly clarify the law rather than see a journalist, campaigner or website operator be subjected to an expensive and time consuming legal action. </div></td></tr>
</table>Richard Taylorhttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21088&oldid=prevRichard Taylor: /* The Extension of privilege: public bodies */2011-04-04T15:18:36Z<p><span dir="auto"><span class="autocomment">The Extension of privilege: public bodies</span></span></p>
<table style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122;" data-mw="interface">
<col class="diff-marker" />
<col class="diff-content" />
<col class="diff-marker" />
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<tr class="diff-title" lang="en">
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">← Older revision</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 17:18, 4 April 2011</td>
</tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l32">Line 32:</td>
<td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 32:</td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Any new provision ought not be limited to information released under the "Freedom of Information Act", as there is a range of access to information legislation, and information pro-actively released by public bodies ought also be covered. The definition of public bodies used could though, for simplicity, be the same as those covered by the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations. (Though we consider there are [[http://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php/Organisations_and_officials_with_public_responsibilities_that_are_not_subject_to_the_Freedom_of_Information_Act|bodies and individuals with substantial public responsibilities that are not subject to the FOIA]])</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Any new provision ought not be limited to information released under the "Freedom of Information Act", as there is a range of access to information legislation, and information pro-actively released by public bodies ought also be covered. The definition of public bodies used could though, for simplicity, be the same as those covered by the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations. (Though we consider there are [[http://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php/Organisations_and_officials_with_public_responsibilities_that_are_not_subject_to_the_Freedom_of_Information_Act|bodies and individuals with substantial public responsibilities that are not subject to the FOIA]])</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a simple but important change. It could be seen to a large extent as a clarification of the existing legal position, but it would be desirable for Parliament to explicitly clarify the law rather than see a journalist, campaigner or website operator be subjected to expensive and time consuming legal action. </div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a simple but important change. It could be seen to a large extent as a clarification of the existing legal position, but it would be desirable for Parliament to explicitly clarify the law rather than see a journalist, campaigner or website operator be subjected to <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">an </ins>expensive and time consuming legal action. </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The provision being sought is distinct from the protection to ISPs and others simply republishing / conveying material.</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The provision being sought is distinct from the protection to ISPs and others simply republishing / conveying material.</div></td></tr>
</table>Richard Taylorhttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21085&oldid=prevRichard Taylor: reading through polishing wording2011-04-04T14:44:07Z<p>reading through polishing wording</p>
<table style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122;" data-mw="interface">
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<td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">← Older revision</td>
<td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 16:44, 4 April 2011</td>
</tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l1">Line 1:</td>
<td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 1:</td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The Ministry of Justice is running a [http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/draft-defamation-bill.htm Consultation on a Draft Defamation Bill]. The consultation is to run from 15 March 2011 to 10 June 2011, but the joint committee deliberating on the Bill will begin discussing it before the consultation ends, and well before the report on the consultation is due to be published. </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The Ministry of Justice is running a [http://www.justice.gov.uk/consultations/draft-defamation-bill.htm Consultation on a Draft Defamation Bill]. The consultation is to run from 15 March 2011 to 10 June 2011, but the joint committee deliberating on the Bill will begin discussing it before the consultation ends, and well before the report on the consultation is due to be published. </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The response is to be sent to defamation@justice.gsi.gov.uk</del></div></td><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-added"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">''[currently] a draft'' of </del>a response to this consultation by the team responsible for mySociety's Freedom of Information website WhatDoTheyKnow.com</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to this consultation by the team responsible for mySociety's Freedom of Information website WhatDoTheyKnow.com</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-side-deleted"></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div><ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">The response is to be sent to defamation@justice.gsi.gov.uk</ins></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>----</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>----</div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l12">Line 12:</td>
<td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 12:</td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Dear Ministry of Justice, </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Dear Ministry of Justice, </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to the consultation currently being run by the department on the Draft Defamation Bill. We would like to comment on three areas of the proposals:</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to the consultation currently being run by the department on the Draft Defamation Bill<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">. This response is on behalf of the team responsible for the WhatDoTheyKnow.com website</ins>. We would like to comment on three areas of the proposals:</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* The extension of privilege</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* The extension of privilege</div></td></tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno" id="mw-diff-left-l24">Line 24:</td>
<td colspan="2" class="diff-lineno">Line 24:</td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The draft bill proposes extending and clarifying the types of material which can be published without fear of being sued for defamation via amendments to [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/31/schedule/1 Schedule 1 to the Defamation Act 1996].</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The draft bill proposes extending and clarifying the types of material which can be published without fear of being sued for defamation via amendments to [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/31/schedule/1 Schedule 1 to the Defamation Act 1996].</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>We would like to propose adding a further clear special exemption applying to material released by public bodies. This could use the form of words which appears elsewhere in the Bill and cover a</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>We would like to propose adding a further clear special exemption applying to material released by public bodies. This could use the form of words which appears elsewhere in the Bill and cover a<ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">:</ins></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>:''"fair and accurate report or summary of, copy of or extract from...".''</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>:''"fair and accurate report or summary of, copy of or extract from...".''</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The proposed new provision would enable the republication of Freedom of Information responses from a public bodies without fear of libel action. Such a provision would clearly be of value to services such as WhatDoTheyKnow.com. It would also allow campaigners, journalists and others working with such material more freedom from legal threats and uncertainty; as such this addition would appear to be in-line with the coalition's stated aims of their amendments to libel law.</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>The proposed new provision would enable the republication of Freedom of Information responses from a public bodies without fear of libel action. Such a provision would clearly be of value to services such as WhatDoTheyKnow.com. It would also allow campaigners, journalists and others working with such material more freedom from legal threats and uncertainty; as such this addition would appear to be in-line with the coalition's stated aims of their amendments to libel law.</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>WhatDoTheyKnow.com has had to remove a FOI response from its website following serious threats of libel action. </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>WhatDoTheyKnow.com has had to remove a FOI response from its website following serious threats of libel action. </div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Any new provision ought not be limited to information released under the "Freedom of Information Act", as there is a range of access to information legislation, and information pro-actively released by public bodies ought also be covered. The definition of public bodies used could though, for simplicity, be the same as those covered by the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations. </div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Any new provision ought not be limited to information released under the "Freedom of Information Act", as there is a range of access to information legislation, and information pro-actively released by public bodies ought also be covered. The definition of public bodies used could though, for simplicity, be the same as those covered by the Freedom of Information and Environmental Information Regulations. <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">(Though we consider there are [[http://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php/Organisations_and_officials_with_public_responsibilities_that_are_not_subject_to_the_Freedom_of_Information_Act|bodies and individuals with substantial public responsibilities that are not subject to the FOIA]])</ins></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a simple but important change. It could be seen to a large extent as a clarification of the existing legal position, but it would be desirable for Parliament to explicitly clarify the law rather than see a journalist, campaigner or website operator be subjected to expensive and time consuming legal action. </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a simple but important change. It could be seen to a large extent as a clarification of the existing legal position, but it would be desirable for Parliament to explicitly clarify the law rather than see a journalist, campaigner or website operator be subjected to expensive and time consuming legal action. </div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>===Secondary publication: hyperlinks===</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>===Secondary publication: hyperlinks===</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Links between websites are clearly key to the way the internet works, but it is is almost always impractical for an organisation to verify the accuracy of every single statement on every single web page <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">the </del>organisation's website <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">link </del>to especially as content can be added/changed after the link is published. Whatdotheyknow.com volunteers were surprised to learn as part of our training on defamation law that when considering the legality of hyperlinks to pages containing defamatory statements in English, lawyers often consider a case from 1894 involving a man sat on a stool by the side of the road pointing at a nearby to attract the attention of passers (Hird v Wood). We would strongly support a change to the law to provide a clear defence for those publishing weblinks to defamatory content who are acting in good faith <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">an </del>who have not endorsed the content they have linked to. The law should be clarified to ensure posting links of the form "See another point of view at: [URL]" or "a related article is at: [URL] is not be actionable in cases where there is no malicious intent.</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Links between websites are clearly key to the way the internet works, but it is is almost always impractical for an organisation to verify the accuracy of every single statement on every single web page <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">an </ins>organisation's website <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">links </ins>to especially as content can be added/changed after the link is published. Whatdotheyknow.com volunteers were surprised to learn as part of our training on defamation law that when considering the legality of hyperlinks to pages containing defamatory statements in English, lawyers often consider a case from 1894 involving a man sat on a stool by the side of the road pointing at a nearby to attract the attention of passers (Hird v Wood). We would strongly support a change to the law to provide a clear defence for those publishing weblinks to defamatory content who are acting in good faith <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">and </ins>who have not endorsed the content they have linked to. The law should be clarified to ensure posting links of the form "See another point of view at: [URL]" or "a related article is at: [URL] is not be actionable in cases where there is no malicious intent.</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br/></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>(see: http://www.taylorwessing.com/fileadmin/files/docs/WhatsinaLink.pdf)</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>(see: http://www.taylorwessing.com/fileadmin/files/docs/WhatsinaLink.pdf)</div></td></tr>
</table>Richard Taylorhttps://foiwiki.com/foiwiki/index.php?title=WhatDoTheyKnow_Response_to_Draft_Defamation_Bill_Consultation&diff=21084&oldid=prevRichard Taylor at 14:35, 4 April 20112011-04-04T14:35:41Z<p></p>
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<td colspan="2" style="background-color: #fff; color: #202122; text-align: center;">Revision as of 16:35, 4 April 2011</td>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Dear Ministry of Justice, </div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>Dear Ministry of Justice, </div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to the consultation currently being run by the department on the Draft Defamation Bill. We would like to comment on <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">four </del>areas of the proposals:</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>This is a response to the consultation currently being run by the department on the Draft Defamation Bill. We would like to comment on <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">three </ins>areas of the proposals:</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* The <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Extension </del>of privilege</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* The <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">extension </ins>of privilege</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="−"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #ffe49c; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* The <del style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Extension </del>of the "Derbyshire Principle"</div></td><td class="diff-marker" data-marker="+"></td><td style="color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #a3d3ff; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* The <ins style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">extension </ins>of the "Derbyshire Principle"</div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* Secondary publication: hyperlinks</div></td><td class="diff-marker"></td><td style="background-color: #f8f9fa; color: #202122; font-size: 88%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 1px 1px 4px; border-radius: 0.33em; border-color: #eaecf0; vertical-align: top; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div>* Secondary publication: hyperlinks</div></td></tr>
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</table>Richard Taylor