Libel bill proposes 14-day period for removing online content

Bill's progress depends on support from Tories

Proposed libel law gives 14 days to remove web content

The Liberal Democrats have proposed a new libel law clarifying how long media publishers and ISPs would have to act after being informed of libellous content.

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester's proposed libel bill would set a 14-day time limit for removing content, which could shorten if a specific court application were made.

Currently parties who are not directly responsible for content are not liable if that content is removed "expeditiously".

Speaking on Pinsent Masons' IT and e-commerce legal help web site, litigation expert David Woods said that parties hosting potentially libellous content "now know how long they have to act on a complaint".

However, added Woods, "the 14-day period is a surprisingly long one, considering how serious libel actions can be."

Companies bringing action for defamation have to show that "the publication of the words or matters complained of has caused, or is likely to cause, substantial financial loss to the body corporate."

For individuals, the bill says the court must strike out an action for defamation unless the claimant shows "the publication of the words or matters complained of has caused substantial harm to the claimant’s reputation; or it is likely that such harm will be caused to the claimant’s reputation."

Whether the bill becomes law will depend on support from the Liberal Democrats' Tory coalition partners.