Keep libel laws out of science

Sense About Science launched the Keep Libel Laws out of Science campaign in June 2009, calling for reform of the libel laws to protect open scientific discussion.

We encourage scientists to enter public debates on science and we support open discussion about scientific research so when we became aware that our libel laws were chilling scientific discussion, we knew we had to act. We objected to several high profile cases brought against scientists and were inundated with correspondence from hundreds of scientific researchers, patient groups, writers and publishers around the world about libel threats being used to silence scientific debate.

Our timeline of events shows Sense About Science’s story since June 2009 to our work today as part of the Libel Reform Campaign with writers' organisation English PEN and free-speech organisation Index on Censorship. The groundswell of support for the campaign led to the libel laws in England & Wales being reformed. The Defamation Act 2013 received Royal Assent on 25th April 2013 and came into force on 1st January 2014.

However, the Libel Reform Campaign continues. Very few of the new provisions have been extended to Scotland, and none in Northern Ireland. This has left British citizens in those nations with fewer free speech protections than their neighbours in England & Wales. Worse, since most publishers operate throughout the UK, the jurisdictions with unreformed law could to chill free speech everywhere in the United Kingdom, and the Defamation Act 2013 could be undermined.

We are working with medical and scientific groups and our supporters to ensure that changes made to the laws are substantial and meaningful. Add your voice, follow progress and get involved at www.libelreform.org

Timeline of the campaign

Sense About Science launches Keep Libel Laws out of Science	June 2009	BCA V Singh Simon Singh on the background to his case
The World Conference of Science Journalists	July 2009	Simon Singh's application turned down by Court of Appeal
	August 2009	Simon Singh to apply again to Court of Appeal for oral hearing
Richard Dawkins Addresses the Liberal Democrat Annual Party Conference	September 2009
The Liberal Democrats commit to libel reform
The Association of British Science Writers annual lecture	October 2009	Simon Singh is granted permission to appeal
Free Speech is Not For Sale report published	November 2009
Jack Straw acknowledges need for libel reform
Launch of Libel Reform Campaign	December 2009	Panel for Simon Singh's appeal announced
Nick Clegg addresses Royal Society on libel	January 2010
Jack Straw announces plans to reduce costs of libel laws and announces formation of new working group on libel law
CMS Report 'Press Standards, Privacy and Libel'	February 2010	Simon Singh's appeal hearing
Big Libel Week	March 2010
Prof. Lacerda addresses MPs on libel chill
The Big Libel Gig featuring Dara O Briain, Tim Minchin, Robin Ince, Ed Byrne and many more
Mass Lobby of Parliament
Report of the Libel Working Group published
Labour Party commits to libel reform
Conservatives commit to libel reform	April 2010	Simon Singh appeal successful
Three major parties commit to libel reform in manifestos		The BCA drop their case against Simon Singh
Parliamentary Early Day Motion for libel reform closes
Free Speech Election Hustings
Lord Lester's Libel Bill published	May 2010
Government announces libel reform bill	July 2010
Medical Journalists' Association Awards
US passes SPEECH Act against libel tourism	August 2010
Libel Reform Campaign events at three main party conferences
Reforming Libel: What must a Defamation Bill achieve?	September 2010	A letter from Simon Singh, Ben Goldacre and Peter Wilmshurst calling for libel reform
Launch of Geek Calendar to raise funds for libel reform	October 2010
New guide to libel laws for bloggers published	November 2010	Plastic surgeon threatened for comment on 'boob job' cream
Libel Reform Campaign nominated for Liberty Human Rights Awards
One Year On: Justice Minister says libel laws not fit for   purpose	December 2010	US company ordered to pay costs into court or have libel action against cardiologist struck out
Nick Clegg commits to libel reform in speech on civil liberties	January 2011
What should a Defamation Bill contain?	March 2011	Cardiologist Peter Wilmshurst sued for libel for 4th time
Government publishes draft Defamation Bill
Ask your MP to support EDM 1636 on libel reform
Libel Reform Campaign tell MPs what we think of draft bill	May 2011
Our written evidence to the scrutiny committee
Help us shape Britain's libel laws
Ministers say draft bill is not reform	June 2011	Critic sued in Australia for libel by weight-loss product manufacturer
A quick guide to libel laws in England and Wales		A message from Simon Singh & Ben Goldacre
British Medical Association votes unanimously for libel law reform
	August 2011	NMT Medical defamation cases against Dr Peter Wilmshurst discontinued
Scrutiny committee of the draft Defamation Bill publishes its report	October 2011
Campaigners call on the Minister to back urgent action on libel law reform	November 2011	Nature defends a libel action in the High Court
		Richard Dawkins, Amazon and Vaughn Jones defend a libel action in the High Court
		Bloggers threatened with libel action after discussing unproven cancer treatments
All we want for Christmas is our MPs to back libel reform in the Queen's Speech	December 2011
Government's response to Joint Scrutiny Committee on Draft Defamation Bill	March 2012
Rally for Libel Reform		Decision in Dawkins, Amazon.co.uk and Jones libel case
Libel reform announced in Queen’s Speech to Parliament	May 2012
Government publishes Defamation Bill 2012
Second reading debate of Defamation Bill 2012	June 2012
Rally for a public interest defence
Decision in Nature libel case	July 2012
Report and third reading of Defamation Bill 2012	September 2012
Defamation Bill goes to House of Lords	October 2012
Ed Miliband supports new pubilc interest defence
Collection of stories on the need for a new pubilc interest defence	December 2012
Defamation Bill moves to Grand Committee in House of Lords
Don't drop the Defamation Bill	February 2013
The Government must bring the Defamation Bill back to the Commons	March 2013
Defamation Bill returns to the House of Commons	April 2013
Government chooses business interests over citizens
Defamation Bill returns to the House of Lords
Defamation Bill is given Royal Assent. Here's our initial analysis.
Join us to raise a glass to libel reform.	May 2013
Penderel's Oak - four years on.
The Defamation Act and next steps for libel reform	June 2013
Libel reform: What Next?
Don’t bring the libel bullies to Belfast, say authors	September 2013
Battle to modernise libel law continues elsewhere in UK
A new dawn for libel law	January 2014
What does the new law mean for you?
The fight for libel reform continues in Northern Ireland	February 2014
Libel concerns prevent book from publication	March 2014
New campaign groups says "Protect free speech in Northern Ireland"	May 2014
Bringing libel reform to Scotland	July 2014

• Reforming Libel: What must a Defamation Bill achieve?
• So you've had a threatening letter. What can you do?
• What should a Defamation Bill contain?

• Read about great recent successes for #LibelReform and current opportunities in Scotland & NI in our campaign update https://t.co/PmQeWhg0Bq 3 months ago

• Libel tourism cases appear to be on the wane in London thanks to Defamation Act 2013 #LibelReform https://t.co/PmQeWhg0Bq 3 months ago

• Huge #LibelReform successes with Defamation Act 2013. It's time to catch up in Scotland & NI https://t.co/PmQeWhg0Bq 3 months ago