Weller & Ors v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 1176. Weller case highlights need for guidance on photography, privacy and the press

ABSTRACT

Photographs published in the Mail Online of Musician Paul Weller and his young children taken in the street in California were subject to a misuse of private information and breach of Data Protection Act claim against Associated Newspapers Limited. In the Court of Appeal's judgment a number of matters were given consideration, including the application of Californian law, where it was lawful to both take and publish the photographs; whether the claimants had a reasonable expectation of privacy; the relevance of the status of the child and the extent to which matters such as consent play a role. In outlining these issues the case emphasises a need for more clarity on both the taking and publishing of photographs – in relation to the famous and their children, and to children in general.

KEYWORDS:

• photographs
• privacy
• children
• image rights
• consent

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes on contributor

Holly Hancock is a PhD candidate and Associate Tutor at the University of East Anglia Law School.

Notes

1 [2015] EWCA Civ 1176.

2 Campbell v MGN [2004] UKHL 22; [2004] 2 AC 457.

3 [2005] 1 AC 593 [17].

4 Weller & Ors v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2014] EWHC 1163 (QB) [172].

5 Weller (n 1) [60].

6 Murray v Express Newspapers plc [2007] EWHC 1908 (Ch) [55].

7 This second test was set out in Murray (n 6).

8 Von Hannover v Germany [2004] EMLR 379; (2005) 40 EHRR 1; Von Hannover v Germany (No 2) (2012) 55 EHRR 15; Von Hannover v Germany (No 3) (2013) Application No 8772/10.

9 [2003] 3 NZLR 385 [138].

10 Campbell (n 2) [165].

11 Peck v United Kingdom (2003) 36 EHRR 41; [2003] EMLR 287

12 Ibid, [62].

13 (2001) 46 EHRR 1272 [57].

14 Murray (n 6) [37].

15 Von Hannover v Germany (2004) 40 EHRR 1, [50]–[53].

16 [2006] EWCA Civ 1714; [2008] QB 73; [2007] 3 WLR 194; [2007] EMLR 113.

17 Ibid, [58] (Eady J).

18 Reklos v Greece (2009) 27 BHRC 420.

19 Murray v Big Pictures Ltd [2008] EWCA Civ 446; [2009] Ch 481 [36].

20 UKSC 42 [2015] 3 WLR 155.

21 Murray (n 19) [36].

22 Ibid, [98].

23 Weller (n 1) [60].

24 Campbell (n 2) [154].

25 John v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2006] EMLR 722.

26 Murray (n 19) [56].

27 Murray (n 19).

28 Re JR 38 (n 20).

29 Murray (n 19) [8].

30 Re JR 38 (n 20) [55].

31 Weller (n 1) [171].

32 Ibid, [63].

33 Murray (n 6) [23] (Patten J).

34 Weller (n 1) [63].

35 Re JR 38 (n 20) [95].

36 Weller (n 1) [20] referring to Re JR 38 (n 20) [95].

37 Re JR 38 (n 20) [65].

38 Weller (n 1) [29]–[30].

39 See n 21 for the factors.

40 Murray (n 6) [65].

41 Weller (n 1) [25].

42 Weller (n 1) [40].

43 Weller (n 4) [54].

44 Von Hannover v Germany (No 2) (2012) 55 EHRR 15, [109]–[113].

45 Von Hannover (No 1) (n 15) [59].

46 See National Union of Journalists, ‘Photographers call “Wellers’ Law” wrong and unworkable’ (nuj.org.uk, 5 January 2015) <www.nuj.org.uk/news/photographers-call-wellers-law-wrong-and-unworkable/>

47 Weller (n 1) [49].

48 Weller (n 1) [63].

49 Von Hannover (No 1) (n 15) [59].

50 Murray (n 6) [47].

51 Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Editors' Code of Practice, ipso.co.uk (March 2015) <www.ipso.co.uk/assets/82/Editors_Code_of_Practice_A4_March_2015.pdf>

52 Murray (n 6) [46].

53 Murray (n 19) [46].

54 For the Weller's Statement see Press Association, ‘Paul Weller Children Win Privacy Damages Over Photos On Mail Online’ (The Guardian, 16 April 2014) < www.theguardian.com/music/2014/apr/16/paul-weller-privacy-damages-children-photos-mail-online>

55 Weller (n 1) [125] 2014.

56 Hannah Weller's campaign site can be found at <www.childrensprivacy.co.uk> (accessed 20 March 2016).

57 See Daniel Boffey, ‘Hannah Weller: I’m Fighting To Protect Everyone's Children’ (The Guardian, 3 January 2015) <www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/03/paul-weller-hannah-weller-battle-for-privacy-children> accessed 27 February 2016.

58 Sciacca v Italy (2006) 43 EHRR 400.

59 Nominet, ‘Today's Children Will Feature In Almost 1,000 Online Photos By The Time They Reach Age Five’, Nominet.uk, 26 May 2015 <www.nominet.uk/todays-children-will-feature-in-almost-1000-online-photos-by-the-time-they-reach-age-five/> accessed 18 March 2016.

60 Weller (n 4) [63].

61 danah boyd, ‘Privacy and Publicity in the Context of Big Data’ (Talk, North Carolina, 29 April 2010) <http://www.danah.org/papers/talks/2010/WWW2010.html> accessed 5 May 2016.

62 Campbell (n 2).

63 See the Guardian report for more information on this; Press Association ‘Adele's Son Gets Payout In Privacy Case’ (the Guardian, 23 July 2014) <www.theguardian.com/media/2014/jul/23/adele-son-payout-privacy-corbis-angelo-adkins>

64 Weller (n 1) [58].