View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 18, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 3:24pm

10.30am: Court of Appeal backs Hello! in Douglas-Jones wedding case

By Press Gazette

The Court of Appeal has ruled that Hello! magazine was entitled to
publish a spoiler spread on the wedding of Catherine Zeta-Jones and
Michael Douglas
marking the end of a four-year legal fight.

The
decision overturns a previous decision which ordered
Hello! to pay damages and costs to OK! of more than £2 million.
The
famous couple originally sold their wedding photos to OK! magazine but
Hello! was able to publish a spoiler after it obtained snaps from
another wedding-goer. The result was substantial loss in sale for
Hello! which thought it had obtained the exclusive rights to the event.
Hello! was represented by London media lawyers, m law.
Chris Hutchings of m law said: “This was a spat
between two rival publishers and not between Hello! and the Douglases.
The judgment is a resounding win for Hello!. The focus of this case was
not about privacy, it was about commerce and in particular the common
practise of editorial ‘spoilers’. As a result of our win, Richard
Desmond will now have to write a cheque to Hello! for a very large
amount of money indeed.”

Content from our partners
Free journalism awards for journalists under 30: Deadline today
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network