A WEB OF LIES?: Dr LAURENCE GODFREY V DEMON INTERNET

Abstract

The preliminary decision of the High Court in Dr Laurence Godfrey v Demon Internet Ltd followed by a recent out-of-court settlement has raised ISPs’ concerns in relation to their scope of duties and the defences available under English law against actions brought due to defamatory statements anonymously posted on a UseNet bulletin board. This case report looks at the wide ranging problems, compares the English court’s analysis to that of the US, and suggests some solutions.