Nature Publishing Group Wins Long-Running Libel Trial
A former editor of a theoretical physics journal has lost his libel claim against Nature Publishing Group, the publisher of Nature.
Mohamed El Naschie sued Nature Publishing Group and its news reporter Quirin Schiermeier over an article published in Nature in 2008, entitled ‘Self-publishing editor set to retire’. Campaigners have used the case as one of a number of examples showing the need for reform of the much-criticized libel laws in England and Wales, which many believe make it too easy to suppress debate through costly and time-consuming libel cases.
Today, at a court in Bristol, UK, judge Mrs Justice Sharp dismissed the libel action brought by El Naschie, writing in her judgment that the Nature article was “responsible journalism” and contained information of a “high order of public interest”.