Obama approves libel protection laws

US President Barack Obama has signed into law new legislation protecting US writers from foreign libel judgements.



The Speech Act, which was recently passed by the House of Representatives, makes foreign libel rulings virtually unenforceable in US courts.



The act targets so-called libel tourists who launch cases in countries whose legal systems are considered far more claimant-friendly, such as the UK.



Some cases have been brought in the UK because US libel laws include the so-called Sullivan defence, in which the claimant must prove malice or serious recklessness before the case proceeds to the courts.



In the US, the person bringing the suit must also prove the statement at the heart of the case is false, whereas under English law the defendant has to prove it is true.



The change in US federal law stems from the case of the writer and academic, Rachel Ehrenfeld.



She was sued in the High Court in London over a book on the funding of terrorism on the basis that although it was only published in the US, 23 copies were sold in the UK via the internet.



Although she refused to take part in the action, she was ordered to pay 10,000 pounds in damages to each of the wounded parties as well as costs.



Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding had also attempted to sue ABC news over allegations involving Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke.



However, the new law will affect that effort.