View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
May 10, 2011

Mosley’s first set setback in mission to make media pay for orgy expose

By Press Gazette

Ex-Formula One boss Max Mosley has been on a mission ever since March 2008 when he woke up one Sunday morning to find out his extra-marital sexual exploits with five paid dominatrices in a basement flat had been splashed on the front-page of the News of the World.

Today he had his first major setback as the European Court ruled that existing UK privacy laws and codes are sufficiently stringent to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

Mosley thinks it is wrong that the first he knew about the fact that the News of the World had invaded his privacy was when it did so by publishing photos, video and a story about his sexual antics.

If they had asked him for a comment in advance of publication he could have obtained an injunction banning publication. Mosley wanted to get pre-publication notification in cases such as his enshrined in law but he was unsuccessful.

Mosley may have won £60,000 in privacy damages in 2009 – but he argues that was no remedy because legal fees still left him out of pocket and the publicity around the case had the effect of repeating the privacy breach.

Today’s judgment will be seen by many in the media as good news for press freedom at a time when an increasing number of celebrities are using before-publication injunctions to prevent embarrassing stories which encroach on their privacy.

Click on the links below for Press Gazette’s stories about Max Mosley, the media and privacy.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

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