Media law firm Harbottle & Lewis is urging photographers to show restraint
when photographing Kate Middleton, Prince William's girlfriend, and is
warning journalists that they are responsible for the behaviour of
photographers whose images they use.
The firm is planning legal against paparazzi who intrude on
Middleton's privacy and harass her, and is preparing a complaint
to the Press Complaints Commission about allegedly intrusive photos,
according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
Harbottle and Lewis plans to protect Middleton's privacy using the
ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that safeguarded the
privacy of Princess Caroline of Monaco in 2004.
In that case the court ruled in favour of the princess after
magazines published photographs of her in public places but not acting in a public capacity.
Harbottle & Lewis is also reportedly planning to use criminal laws on harassment and road safety to
restrict paparazzi pursuing Middleton.
Amid speculation that Prince William may propose to Middleton this year, photographs of her are in high demand. The Telegraph reported they can fetch up to £20,000 for a single exclusive
shot.
Last week Press Gazette reported that a Court of Appeal ruling involving US folk singer Loreena McKennitt could have profound effects on journalism this year when the court ruled that a friend who wrote a book detailing aspect of McKennitt’s private life had breached her privacy.
Lawyer Mark Stephens said: “Tabloids are going to have to reinvent the staple of the Sunday morning.”
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