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Press regulation: minor bloggers excluded from exemplary damages Press regulation: minor bloggers excluded from exemplary damages
(5 months later)
Bloggers with a turnover of less than £2m annually and fewer than 10 employees will be excluded from certain punitive elements of the proposed new press regulation regime, under a legislative amendment agreeed by the three main political parties.Bloggers with a turnover of less than £2m annually and fewer than 10 employees will be excluded from certain punitive elements of the proposed new press regulation regime, under a legislative amendment agreeed by the three main political parties.
The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour have reached an agreement laying down the definition of what constitutes a "micro business" that will be exempt from the government's controversial plans which could allow courts to impose exemplary damages on newspapers who refuse to join an approved regulator and lose libel cases.The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour have reached an agreement laying down the definition of what constitutes a "micro business" that will be exempt from the government's controversial plans which could allow courts to impose exemplary damages on newspapers who refuse to join an approved regulator and lose libel cases.
Under the amendment to the crime and courts bill, which will be debated in the Commons on Monday, bloggers and small web businesses that cover news and choose to join the regulator will also gain significant cost-protection benefits.Under the amendment to the crime and courts bill, which will be debated in the Commons on Monday, bloggers and small web businesses that cover news and choose to join the regulator will also gain significant cost-protection benefits.
The amendment appears to suggest that bloggers will not be covered by the costs penalty clauses if they are sued, even if they do not sign up to the new regulator.The amendment appears to suggest that bloggers will not be covered by the costs penalty clauses if they are sued, even if they do not sign up to the new regulator.
Under the proposed amendment a micro business is described as an entity that publishes news-related material in a multi-author blog on an "incidental basis that is relevant to the main activities of the business". Single author blogs are already exempt.Under the proposed amendment a micro business is described as an entity that publishes news-related material in a multi-author blog on an "incidental basis that is relevant to the main activities of the business". Single author blogs are already exempt.
The government has been holding a consultation on how best to construct a workable definition of small-scale online services, after concerns were raised that bloggers and tweeters may be caught by rules designed to apply primarily to larger news organisations.The government has been holding a consultation on how best to construct a workable definition of small-scale online services, after concerns were raised that bloggers and tweeters may be caught by rules designed to apply primarily to larger news organisations.
The proposal to introduce exemplary damages remains arguably the biggest stumbling block for the government gaining the backing of the newspaper industry. Earlier this week, Maria Miller, the culture secretary, said that it was sticking to the plan to introduce exemplary damages.The proposal to introduce exemplary damages remains arguably the biggest stumbling block for the government gaining the backing of the newspaper industry. Earlier this week, Maria Miller, the culture secretary, said that it was sticking to the plan to introduce exemplary damages.
Evan Harris, associate director of Hacked Off, the group campaigning for tighter press regulation, welcomed the proposed amendment: "This is a very good result for bloggers … almost all multi-author edited news blogs will not need to join an approved self-regulator in order to avoid cost penalties if sued in court.Evan Harris, associate director of Hacked Off, the group campaigning for tighter press regulation, welcomed the proposed amendment: "This is a very good result for bloggers … almost all multi-author edited news blogs will not need to join an approved self-regulator in order to avoid cost penalties if sued in court.
"But in addition, any such news blogs who do choose to join, will get cost protection if a libel or privacy claimant chooses to sue them in court instead of using the arbitration scheme in the self-regulator.""But in addition, any such news blogs who do choose to join, will get cost protection if a libel or privacy claimant chooses to sue them in court instead of using the arbitration scheme in the self-regulator."
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