Internet Libel Actions Stayed as an Abuse of Process in the UK

• Author: David A. Potts
• Profession: Barrister, Bar of Ontario
• Pages: 163-175

163

 : Internet Libel Actions Stayed as

an Abuse of Process in the UK

A. INTRODUCTION

In the UK the courts have recently held that a libel action may be struck out or

stayed as an abu se of process where the extent of publicat ion within the juri s-

diction is very small or there is no realistic prospect of achieving v indication

in any event. is argument is discussed in some detail for Canadia n lawyers

and judges because it is applicable to Internet libel actions in Canada.

Dow Jones & Co. Inc. v. Jameel,[] EWCA Civ  quoted in Mardas v. New

York Timesand Anor,[] EWHC  at para.  (QB); Lonzim Plc & Ors v.

Sprague, [] EWHC  (QB)

See, for example, further decisions disc ussing the abuse of process argument:

Budu v. e British Broadca sting Corporation, [] EWHC  (QB)

Kaschke v. Gray & Anor, [] EWHC  (QB)

Khader v. Aziz & Ors, [] EWCA Civ 

Smith v. ADVFN Plc & Ors, [] EWCA Civ 

Carrie v. Tolkien, [] EWHC  (QB)

Lonzim Plc & Ors v. Sprague, [] EWHC  (QB)

Atlantis World Group of Companies N V & Anor v. Gruppo Editoriale L’Espresso

SPA, [] EWHC  (QB)

Ewing v. News International Ltd & O rs, [] EWHC  (QB)

Smith v. ADVFN Plc & Ors, [] EWHC  (QB)

Amoudi v. Brisard & Anor, [] EWHC  (QB)

Bunt v. Tilley & Ors, [] EWHC  (QB)

Bin Mahfouz & Ors v. Ehrenfeld & Anor, [] EWHC  (QB)