Reply #5: Jurisdiction [View All]

[panzerfaust]

If someone can show that they may have been libeled within the UK, then, under UK libel laws, they can sue in the UK.

The classic example of this is the judgement that Khalid bin Mahfouz won against the US author Rachel Ehrenfeld, who alleged (correctly most would say) in her 2003 book "Funding Evil" that Mahfouz was a major funder of terrorism.

"Funding Evil" was published only in the U.S., but a few UK citizens (fewer than 40 as I recall) purchased the book via the internet, and thus Mahfouz (a Saudi) was able to claim status to sue Ms. Ehrenfeld (an American) in England (where neither lived, and where the book was not sold).

What this means is that UK libel laws (which are much different than are own, even, I believe to the extent that truth is not always a defense) can be used to sue people no matter where the live, or where the alleged libel may have taken place: all that is needed is to get standing in a UK court.

Take note that Tiger Woods recently obtained a court order prohibiting any publication of nude pictures of him ("which may or may not exist") and he obtained it from a UK court.

Like where does Tiger live?