Supreme Court upholds press ban in celebrity threesome case
News
After much anticipation, the Supreme Court has flexed its muscles by making clear that the English legal system won’t be bullied by the media. By a majority of 4 to 1, five Supreme Court Justices today overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal to discharge an injunction obtained by an individual known as PJS. The injunction related to information concerning PJS’s extra-marital sex life. The Supreme Court decided that the publication of the information (and PJS’s identity) in print in the USA, Canada and Scotland, as well as on the internet and social media, did not eliminate the purpose of the injunction. It held that the publication of the story by the English media in hard copy would likely “add significantly to the overall intrusiveness and distress involved”. The Court also noted that criticism of alleged infidelity by celebrities cannot of itself be justified as being in the public interest.
Despite the publicity generated by the court proceedings, this decision underlines that privacy injunctions can exist in the era of the internet and social media. Those that predicted their demise have been proved wrong. The Supreme Court concluded that there was still value in preventing a story being emblazoned all over the front pages of the national press. Given the furore the case has caused, celebrities and high net worth individuals will naturally be cautious about seeking injunctions. However, where the stakes are high and especially where the individual’s reputation is significant in this jurisdiction, the privacy injunction remains one of a number of useful tools.
For further articles on the PJS injunction by members of the Reputation Management team please see the following:
Haven't we been here before? The privacy injunction back under attack
Don't believe everything you read - the privacy injunction is alive and well
Celebrity threesome story flags injunction weaknesses
If you require further information on anything covered in this briefing please contact Tom Rudkin ([email protected]; +44(0)203 375 7586) or your usual contact at the firm on 020 3375 7000.
This publication is a general summary of the law. It should not replace legal advice tailored to your specific circumstances.
© Farrer & Co LLP, May 2016
