A self-published author is suing a reviewer alongside Amazon and Richard Dawkins after unfavourable comments were posted about his book.
The Telegraph - 10 Nov 2011
Chris McGrath, an online entrepreneur from Milton Keynes, who wrote and self-published a little-known book entitled The Attempted Murder of God: Hidden Science You Really Need to Know, has launched libel proceedings against Vaughan Jones, 28.
He claims Mr Jones wrote damning reviews of is book on Amazon September and October 2010, which he had published under the pseudonym "Scrooby." Mr Jones also revealed his true identity.
During September and October 2010, Mr Jones wrote a series of unfavourable reviews of Mr McGrath's book and named him as the author. The Richard Dawkins Foundation also published an article by Mr Jones on its website.
The details of the reviews and the article are not known because they were taken down once legal proceedings began. But they prompted Mr McGrath to sue Mr Jones, Mr Dawkins, his foundation and Amazon.
Mr Jones, 28, a father of three from the West Midlands, cannot afford representation and is having to defend himself alongside barristers acting on behalf of co-defendants Amazon and Richard Dawkins.
The hearing which begins today is expected to last two days and will decide whether there is a case to answer.
Libel reform campaigners are concerned the hearing is another example of Britain's defamation laws disproportionately favouring claimants.
All parties have declined to discuss the case.
Libel reform campaigners are concerned the hearing is another example of Britain's defamation laws disproportionately favouring claimants.
All parties have declined to discuss the case.
1 comment:
often the people who write bad reviews of books (bad in both senses) say much more about themselves than the subject of their vitriol - I've been the target of a few myself.
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