United Kingdom

[GB] Copyright Judgment of General Interest to Audiovisual Community

IRIS 1999-4:1/10

David Goldberg

deeJgee Research/Consultancy

The case concerned the publication in the "Sun" newspaper of still photographs (of the late Princess of Wales and Dodi Fayed) from film taken by a video security camera. The court held that the use made of the stills by the paper fell within the scope of "reporting current events", in relation to an event which was in the public interest. It further commented that there is a general public interest defence to copyright infringement in principle. However, it is not of wide scope (something like "just cause or excuse") and a genuine public interest in the information disseminated has to be demonstrated.