Index card Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 3)

Hearings

England & Wales

11 Apr 2003 [2003] EWHC 786 (Ch); [2003] 3 All ER 996, Ch D (Lindsay J)

18 May 2005 [2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] 4 All ER 128, CA

09 Nov 2005 (pet all) [2005] 1 WLR 3732, HL(E)

02 May 2007 [2007] UKHL 21; [2008] AC 1; [2007] 2 WLR 920; [2007] Bus LR 1600; [2007] 4 All ER 545; [2008] 1 All ER (Comm) 1, HL(E)

Subject Matter

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION — Breach of confidence — Damages — Celebrity couple granting magazine exclusive rights to publish selected photographs of wedding — Photography forbidden at wedding except by couple's official photographer — Publication by rival magazine of photographs taken surreptitiously — Whether couple entitled to damages for breach of confidence — Whether resulting restriction on freedom of expression “prescribed by law” — Whether couple's right to protect private information transferable to authorised publisher — Whether authorised publisher having cause of action against rival publisher for economic torts of unlawful interference with business or conspiracy to injure — Measure of damages — Human Rights Act 1998, s 12(3)(4), Sch 1, Pt I, arts 8, 10

[2003] EWHC 786 (Ch); [2003] 3 All ER 996, Ch D

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION — Breach of confidence — Damages — Celebrity couple granting magazine exclusive rights to publish selected photographs of wedding — Photography forbidden at wedding except by couple's official photographer — Publication by rival magazine of photographs taken surreptitiously — Whether couple entitled to damages for breach of confidence — Whether resulting restriction on freedom of expression “prescribed by law” — Whether couple's right to protect private information transferable to authorised publisher — Whether authorised publisher having cause of action against rival publisher for economic torts of unlawful interference with business or conspiracy to injure — Measure of damages — Human Rights Act 1998, s 12(3)(4), Sch 1, Pt I, arts 8, 10

[2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] 4 All ER 128, CA

[2007] UKHL 21; [2008] AC 1; [2007] 2 WLR 920; [2007] Bus LR 1600; [2007] 4 All ER 545; [2008] 1 All ER (Comm) 1, HL(E)

Appellate History

Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 3) [2003] EWHC 786 (Ch); [2003] 3 All ER 996, Ch D

Decision of Lindsay J varied

Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 3) [2005] EWCA Civ 595; [2006] QB 125; [2005] 3 WLR 881; [2005] 4 All ER 128, CA

Decision of the Court of Appeal reversed

Douglas v Hello! Ltd (No 3) [2007] UKHL 21; [2008] AC 1; [2007] 2 WLR 920; [2007] Bus LR 1600; [2007] 4 All ER 545; [2008] 1 All ER (Comm) 1, HL(E)

Commentary

Blackstones Civil Practice 2023
Privacy, Freedom of Expression and Injunctions - Article 8 91.55

Exceptional Cases - Privacy: new or extended torts 37.39

Exceptional Cases - Protection of private or confidential information 37.41