Richard Millett QC and Paul Stanley of Essex Court Chambers were instructed by SJ Berwin LLP on the OK! magazine dispute with Hello! over the publication of “spoiler” photographs of the wedding of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones.
The team from SJ Berwin LLP acting on the case were: SJ Berwin’s senior Solicitor Advocate, Richard Slowe, and associates Georgina Bristow and Christina Sharma
OK! is a national celebrity news publication from Northern & Shell PLC, a significant force in British and worldwide media which owns four national newspapers.
The dispute began in 2000, when OK! entered into a £1m contract for the Douglas’ wedding photos but was prevented from enjoying exclusive pictures by Hello’s simultaneous publication of “spoiler” photographs taken by an uninvited paparazzi photographer. OK’s claim was founded on the loss of revenue caused by the reduced value of their £1m contract and the loss of “exclusive” publication.
After winning in the High Court and then losing at the Court of Appeal, OK! instructed SJ Berwin LLP and took Hello! to the House of Lords for breach of confidentiality and unlawful interference with business. The case has attracted considerable interest as the Law Lords have now clarified the law on both these issues. They ruled in OK!’s favour on confidentiality and restored the damages award.
