價格的言論自由

Thursday, September 18th, 2008 週四， 2008年9月18日

By通過 George Monbiot喬治monbiot | So we saw him off. |所以，我們看到他趕走。 Last week, in a victory for both medicine and free speech, Matthias Rath dropped his libel suit against the Guardian.上週，在一個勝利，都醫藥和自由的講話，馬提亞rath下降，他的誹謗訴訟監護人。 But it seems amazing that the courts of this country allowed him to pursue this case.但似乎令人驚訝法院的這個國家，使他追求這起案件。 Rath, a German doctor, appears to have encouraged South Africans suffering from HIV to stop using anti-retroviral drugs and take his vitamin pills instead. rath ，德國醫生，似乎有鼓勵南非人患有艾滋病毒停止使用抗反轉錄病毒藥物，並採取他的維生素丸。 Several of them died.幾個人死亡。 It’s an important story, which shows that journalists are of some use after all.這是一個重要的故事，這表明記者的一些使用後，所有。 But the Guardian stood to lose hundreds of thousands of pounds for having the impudence to publish it.但監護人為失去數以十萬計的英鎊為有impudence出版。

This newspaper is big enough to look after itself, and on Monday it was also able to settle its legal dispute with Tesco.這份報紙是夠大，以照顧本身，以及週一，它也能夠解決其法律糾紛與特易購。 But the net that Rath used is now being cast to catch ever smaller fry.但網rath使用，現正投趕上以往任何時候都規模較小的魚苗。 In the past few days, Sheffield Wednesday Football Club has dropped its cases against some of its fans(1,2).在過去幾天裡，謝菲爾德星期三足球俱樂部已放棄了對案件的一些球迷（ 1,2 ）。 I am now allowed to write about the worst example of legal bullying I have ever seen.我現在可以寫最壞的例子，法律的欺凌我所見過的。

The club has had serious problems, on and off the pitch, and many of its fans use an internet forum – owlstalk.co.uk – to discuss them.俱樂部已嚴重問題，對場內還是場外，和它的許多球迷使用網際網路論壇-o wlstalk.co.uk-討論這些問題。 They make the kind of comments you would expect to find on any talk board, and which would normally be forgotten within 15 minutes.他們作出什麼樣的意見，你會期望找到對任何對話Board ，並通常會被人遺忘在15分鐘內。 Two and half years ago the club launched its first suit.兩年半前，俱樂部推出了其第一適應。 Only now have the people who posted these comments emerged blinking from the labyrinthine nightmare of English law.只是現在有人誰張貼的這些意見，出現閃爍，從迷路的噩夢英語法律。

As Geoffrey Robertson and Andrew Nicol explain in their excellent book Media Law, England’s defamation laws date back to a statute created in 1275.作為杰弗裡羅伯遜和鄭家富nicol解釋，在他們的優秀圖書的媒體法，英格蘭的誹謗法可追溯到規約創造了在1275年。 The criminal offence of scandalum magnatum was devised to protect “the great men of the realm” from stories which could stir the people against them.刑事罪行scandalum magnatum設計，以保護“偉人的境界： ”從故事，這可能挑起人民群眾對他們的。 Three centuries later, the Star Chamber allowed noblemen to launch civil actions for libel, to provide them with an alternative to duelling(3).三個世紀後，明星分庭允許貴族發動的民事行動，為誹謗，為他們提供一個替代duelling （ 3 ）。

They made prolific use of this privilege until Fox’s Libel Act of 1792 determined that the claimant (the person bringing the case) had to prove that the words used against him were false, malicious and damaging.他們提出的多產利用這個特權，直至福克斯的誹謗行為， 1792年認定，索賠人（該人，使案件），以證明所用的字眼對他的虛假，惡意破壞。 This means that libel law 216 years ago was more liberal and more in tune with the principle of free speech than it is today.這意味著，誹謗法二百一十六年前，更自由和更在配合的原則，言論自由的比，這是今天。 During the 19th and 20th centuries, Robertson and Nicol show, “the common law was re-fashioned to serve the British class system from the perspective of … the Victorian club.” To protect wealthy people from criticism, the courts reversed Fox’s burden of proof.在19和20世紀，羅伯遜和nicol顯示， “共同法律是重新守舊，以服務英國階級制度角度出發…維多利亞俱樂部” ，以保護有錢的人從批評，法院扭轉了福克斯的負擔舉證責任。 They created a presumption that any derogatory remark made about a gentleman must be false.他們創造了一種假設認為，任何貶義的言論，約一個紳士必須是假的。 This remains the case today.這仍然是今天的情況。 Defamation differs from all other civil or criminal laws in Britain: the burden of proof is on the defendant.誹謗不同於其他所有民事或刑事法律在英國：舉證責任是對被告。

The law remains the privilege of gentlemen, by which I mean people who are able to afford costs that often exceed a million pounds on each side.法律仍然是特權，先生們，其中我的意思是人誰是負擔不起的費用往往超過1萬英鎊，一邊一國。 Cases tend to be resolved by sheer financial might, as the plaintiffs bankrupt the defendants, or force them to give in before their money runs out.案件往往加以解決，純屬財政的實力，作為原告，被告破產，或迫使他們讓步，之前他們的錢用完。 This ensures that the law retains its 13th Century function.這將確保法律保留其在13世紀的功能。 It guarantees that most attempts to hold the wealthy to account founder before they are launched, as people bite their tongues for fear of losing their homes.它保證最企圖舉行富裕的帳戶創始人發射前，由於人們咬舌頭，為害怕失去他們的家園。

Since 1879, corporations have also been able to sue for libel(4).自1879年，公司也能夠控告誹謗（ 4 ）。 The inequality of arms this causes is compounded by the fact that there is no legal aid for defamation cases.不平等的武器，這原因是複雜的事實，是沒有法律援助的誹謗案件。 Lawyers are now allowed to fight these suits on a no-win, no-fee basis, but this freedom is double-edged: if a defendant loses, he could end up paying double the claimant’s legal costs.律師現正爭取讓這些訴訟對不贏，不收費的基礎上，但這種自由是雙面刃：如果被告敗訴，他可能最終繳交雙倍索賠的訴訟費用。

This is the context in which Sheffield Wednesday went to court to demand the names and email addresses of 14 people who had posted comments on owlstalk.這是在何種情況謝菲爾德星期三到法院要求的姓名和電子郵件地址的14人中誰曾張貼的評論owlstalk 。 Here are some of the comments over which the club sued.這裡的一些評論，超過該俱樂部的起訴。 “What an embarrassing, pathetic, laughing stock of a football club we’ve become”. “有什麼尷尬，可憐，笑柄，一個足球俱樂部我們已經變成了” 。 “Another day, another blunder. “又一天，又一項失誤。 I doubt even Leeds were in such a mess this time last summer, and look what happened to them”.我懷疑，甚至被利茲在這種一塌糊塗，這個時候，去年夏天，並期待有什麼發生在自己身上“ 。 “I am waiting with baited breath to hear who the Chuckle Brothers have signed after their trip to watch players abroad. “我等待與餌呼氣聽到誰， chuckle兄弟已簽署後，他們前往觀賞的球員在國外。 With the amount of money they have to spend and the wages they can offer the best we can hope for is that little known Transvestitavian International I.Sukblodov, who last scored in a brothel.”(5)與數額的金錢，他們須花和工資，他們可以提供最好的，我們可以希望的是鮮為人知的transvestitavian國際一sukblodov ，誰最後得分在一家妓院。 “ （ 5 ）

Such comments were deemed by the Sheffield Wednesday’s lawyers to be “false and seriously defamatory messages”(6) which had caused grievous injury to the delicate flowers who ran the club.這些意見被認為是由謝菲爾德星期三的律師是“虛假，嚴重誹謗訊息” （ 6 ），其中已造成嚴重傷害的微妙花誰然俱樂部。 (They should try posting an article on the Guardian’s Comment is Free site). （他們應該嘗試張貼一篇關於監護人的評論是免費的網站）。 The lawyers threatened “proceedings to include claims for injunctions, damages, interest and legal costs (which could be substantial).”(7) The judge threw most of the application out, but instructed the forum’s host to reveal the email addresses of four of the posters, whose remarks seem to me to be almost as trivial as those he dismissed(8).律師威脅“的法律程序，包括索賠的禁制令，損害賠償，利息及訴訟費用（可大量）。 ” （ 7 ）法官投擲大部分的應用，但指示該論壇的東道國透露的電子郵件地址4的海報，他們的言論，似乎對我來說幾乎是微不足道的，因為那些他解僱（ 8 ）。 This took place a year ago, and the long shadow of the law hung over the posters until the club’s lawyers dropped the case last week.這發生在一年前，和長長的陰影該法的洪超過海報，直到俱樂部的律師下降的情況上週。

Another case dates back to February 2006, when the club sent a warning letter to a fan called Nigel Short.另一宗案件可以追溯到2006年2月，當俱樂部發出了警告信風扇所謂的奈傑爾短。 When he received the letter he offered to apologise and to change his comments, but the club rejected this.當他收到這封信，他願意道歉，並改變他的意見，但俱樂部拒絕了這一點。 He was able to fight it only because he found a lawyer – Mark Lewis of George Davies Solicitors in Manchester – who was incensed by this case and was prepared to represent him.他能夠爭取這不僅是因為他找到了律師-馬克劉易斯喬治戴維斯律師在曼徹斯特-誰是憤怒的這個案件，並準備代表他。 “I’ve had two and a half years of worrying I was going to lose my house”, Short tells me. “我已經兩年半內，令人擔心的，我要失去我的房子” ，短期告訴我。 “It’s been hell. “這是被地獄之路。 If Mark hadn’t done this no win, no fee, I would have been bankrupt by now.”(9)如果馬克並沒有這樣做，沒有贏，不收費，我想已經破產。 “ （ 9 ）

In November 2007, Short was diagnosed with throat cancer.在2007年11月，短的被確診為咽喉癌。 The case continued.案件仍在繼續。 But on Wednesday 3rd September he announced that his treatment had been successful(10).但在週三9月3日，他宣布，他的治療已成功（ 10 ）。 On Friday 5th, the club dropped the case and agreed to pay his costs.上週五第五，該俱樂部下降的情況，並同意支付他費用。 It issued a press release which suggested it had done so because of “Mr Short’s medical condition.”(11) I asked the club whether it had abandoned the case because it knew that Nigel would now live to fight the action.它發出新聞稿，這表明它已這樣做，是因為“議員，短期的醫療條件。 ” （ 11 ）我問俱樂部是否有被遺棄的案件，因為它知道，奈傑爾現在的生活作鬥爭的行動。 It has refused to answer my questions.(12)它拒絕回答我的問題。（ 12 ）

The point of this story is not that the directors of Sheffield Wednesday have behaved like a bunch of petulant bullies.一點，這個故事是不是董事謝菲爾德星期三的表現一樣，一群petulant欺負。 It’s that the law equips them to do so.它的，該法具備他們這樣做。 Most people see this as an issue only for journalists.大多數人認為這是一個問題，不僅為記者。 But the internet ensures that the law of defamation now threatens anyone who stands up for what he believes to be right.但在互聯網上確保誹謗法現在威脅到任何人誰站起來為他相信什麼是正確的。 This autumn the English branch of PEN , which defends the freedom to write, will launch a campaign against our libel law.今年秋天該英語科的筆，其中捍衛自由寫，將推行一項運動，對我們的誹謗法。 But where are the rest of you?但如果是休息的，你呢？ Where are the petitions, the public protests, the lobbies of parliament?哪裡是請願，公眾抗議，遊說國會？ Why is this 13th-Century law still permitted to stifle legitimate dissent?為什麼這是十三世紀的法律仍然允許扼殺合法異議？ Wake up Britain: your freedoms are disappearing into the pockets of barristers and billionaires.醒來英國：您的自由都消失的口袋大律師和億萬富翁。

www.monbiot.com

References:參考文獻：

1. 1 。 K&L Gates, 9th September 2008. SWFC and others v Neil Hargreaves. k及L蓋茨， 2008年9月9日。 swfc和其他v尼爾哈格里夫斯。 Notice of discontinuance.通知終止。

2. 2 。 Irwin Mitchell, 5th September 2008. SWFC and Kaven Walker v Nigel Short.歐文米切爾， 2008年9月5日。 swfc和kaven沃克v奈傑爾短。 Notice of discontinuance.通知終止。

3. 3 。 Geoffrey Robertson QC and Andrew Nicol QC, 2008.杰弗裡羅伯遜御用大律師及鄭家富nicol御用大律師， 2008年。 Media Law, 5th Edition.媒體法，第5版。 Penguin, London.企鵝，倫敦。

4. 4 。 Geoffrey Robertson, pers comm.杰弗裡羅伯遜，屬商業。

5. 5 。 K&L Gates, 10th August 2007. k及L蓋茨， 2007年8月10日。 Schedule attached to letter sent to George Davies Solicitors.附表所附的信件發送到喬治戴維斯律師。

6. SWFC and Others, 14th September 2007. 6 。 swfc和其他人， 2007年9月14日。 Claim Form v Neil Hargreaves.索賠五尼爾哈格里夫斯。 No.HQ07X03169. no.hq07x03169 。

7. 7 。 K&L Gates, 10th August 2007. k及L蓋茨， 2007年8月10日。 Letter to George Davies Solicitors.寫信給喬治戴維斯律師。

8. 8 。 Richard Parkes QC, Sitting as a Deputy Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division, 2nd October 2007.理查德帕克斯御用大律師，坐在作為一個暫委法官的皇后台司， 2007年10月2日。 Approved Judgment, Case No: HQ07X03169.批准的判斷，案件沒有： hq07x03169 。

9. 9 。 Nigel Short, pers comm.奈傑爾短，屬商業。

10. 10 。 http://nigelshort.blog.co.uk/2008/06/24/2008/07/27/they-say-a-picture-pa… http://nigelshort.blog.co.uk/2008/06/24/2008/07/27/they-say-a-picture-pa …

11. SWFC Ltd, 5th September 2008. 11 。 swfc有限公司， 2008年9月5日。 Statement.陳述。 This appears to have been removed from SWFC’s site, but I have retained a copy.這似乎已被調離swfc的網站，但我保留了一份拷貝。 Please write to me if you want to see it.請寫信給我，如果你想看到它。

12. 12 。 Colin Wood, SWFC , 15th September 2008.科林木， swfc ， 2008年9月15日。 By email.通過電子郵件。

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The price of free speech價格的言論自由