We write all this uncensored stuff about all sorts of people. Could we, or the site, ever be done for libel? If not, why not?
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A rather grim question
(13 posts) (11 voices)
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Posted 3 years ago #
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Not to worry Plucky, my legal brain may be a little rusty but the main defence is that the story is so ridiculous no-one would believe it (therefore no damage has been caused). Since this is a spoof news site anyone would have a job to show that people believe what we write (having said that some of the stories have been picked up by others).
The other defence would be that of ‘fair comment’ (so if you say the Prime Minister is crap - you’re entitled to your opinion and he’d have a job to sue you).
Hope that makes some sense that’ll be 100 guineas please.Further reading on internet libel :
When is humour defamatoryPosted 3 years ago # -
Thanks, Mr Jez! A hundred guinea pigs are in the post. It's an interesting issue to someone, naive, like me.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Hey Plucky, do you want to buy some magic anti-libel beans?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Didn't this one get reported in a paper as a real story, or am I mis-remembering?
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well I do think the Prime Minister is CRAP, so there!
Posted 3 years ago # -
Well, difficult to comment, but if you need someone who knows about criminal law, this bloke here http://www.4bb.co.uk/barristers.php?bid=43 seems to know his stuff
Posted 3 years ago # -
Oooh! Get you!
Posted 3 years ago # -
There's about as much chance of this site being charged with funny as being charged with libel. You can't libel the dead.
Posted 3 years ago # -
Plucky, perhaps you shouldn't post any more. Just to be on the safe side.
Posted 3 years ago # -
I took the precausion of buying this anti-libel action spray on the net. It must work because I haven't been sued yet. Their Elephant repellent is pretty good too.
Posted 3 years ago # -
plucky if you can't stand the heat get back in the kitchen and bake some cakes and tell us all about them, there's a luv
Posted 3 years ago # -
Thanks, Messrs Dick and Sensible. I was just curious, not paranoid.
There seems to be a nice, near paradox in libel cases, then. To sue for libel, the written statement has to be 'possible' and, by extension, 'may be true'.
If I ever bake any cakes, you will be the first to get some, Mr Sensible.
Posted 3 years ago #
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