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Letter to the Observer [re: Internet paedophile]
Forwarded to me by a friend:
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From: [email protected] (Malcolm Muir)
Newsgroups: demon.announce
Subject: Letter to the Observer
Followup-To: demon.service
Date: 1 Sep 96 07:25:38 GMT
Organization: Demon Internet Ltd.
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The following letters were delivered to the Editor of the Observer
last week as a request to publish a retraction of their article
relating to the Internet that appeared on Sunday 25th. August.
Since a full retraction has not been published, we feel it is right
to circulate copies of the letters to our customers.
Copies of the letters may also be viewed on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.demon.net/observer1.html (Solicitors Letter) and
http://www.demon.net/observer2.html (Open letter from the Chairman)
Malcolm Muir
Demon Internet
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Jeffrey Green Russel Solicitors
Apollo House
56 New Bond Street
London W1Y 0SX
0171-499 7020
The Editor
The Observer Newspaper
Guardian Newspapers Limited
119 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3ER 30th August 1996
By Hand and Fax: 0171 713 4250
Our ref: DRJ/JHG/[c]423395/9403.047
Dear Sir,
RE: Our Clients: Demon Internet Limited and Mr Clive
Feather
We act on behalf of Demon Internet Limited and Mr Clive
Feather both of whom were the subject of articles which
appeared on the front page and on page 19 of your
newspaper in the edition of Sunday, 25th August.
In the offending article you have represented that our
clients are "Pedlars of child abuse" and are "Key links
in the international paedophile chain". You have
represented that both our clients actively support the
supply of paedophile material. This allegation is
entirely false and is a most serious and outrageous
libel. Our clients are most distressed by the
publication of the offending statements which are
inaccurate and grossly defamatory of them and which will
cause damage to their goodwill and reputation,
professionally, commercially and socially. Both Mr
Feather and Demon Internet Limited have been the subject
of serious expressions of concern and outrage from
various of the readers of your newspaper.
The damage that you have done to our clients cannot, of
course, be undone but it can be mitigated. We require
that you mitigate the serious damage that has been done
to our clients by publishing the enclosed letter from Mr
A W Mudd, Chairman of Demon Internet Limited.
You were well aware, when you decided to publish the
false article in question, of the damage that would be
caused to our clients which is already very considerable
and which will form the basis of a claim for special
damages. It is open to you to mitigate that substantial
loss at the earliest possible time by publishing a full
retraction and apology in this coming Sunday's edition of
your newspaper.
We shall, within the next week or so, issue a Writ and
deliver a Statement of Claim. In the meantime, we
reserve all our clients' rights in the matter and nothing
contained in this letter or in the enclosed letter from
Mr Mudd shall be regarded as a diminution or waiver of
those rights.
Yours faithfully,
JEFFREY GREEN RUSSELL
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Demon Internet Limited
Gateway House
322 Regents Park Road
London N3 2QQ
0181 371 1000
Our ref : AWM/SC/28-08
The Editor
The Observer Newspaper
Guardian Newspapers Limited
119 Farringdon Road
London
EC1R 3ER
30 August 1996
Dear Sir
THE PEDLARS OF CHILD ABUSE
Banner headline: Front page and Page 19 : Sunday 25th
August 1996
I refer to your articles on the front page and page 19 of
last Sunday�s paper. I regard these as highly defamatory
as well as a poor piece of journalism that
sensationalises a serious issue and clouds fact with
emotion.
I am appalled and outraged that The Observer has printed
such a misleading, abusive and inaccurate article -
giving the impression to readers that Clive Feather and
Demon Internet are the "Pedlars of child abuse". This
libellous reporting, littered with malicious lies not
only defames the good character and reputation of a
valued employee, but also destroys the genuine efforts
Demon Internet has been making in
conjunction with the police and the DTI to deal
effectively with the problem.
The articles clearly aimed at sensationalism at any cost
with the intention of misleading readers by stating that
our employee is an "Internet abuser" immediately after
using the word "paedophiles".
As the UK's largest provider of Internet access, Demon
has taken the lead in discussions with all relevant
parties and is in the process of announcing restrictions
to illegal material and processes to classify content,
enabling users to monitor and report on what is viewed.
Demon Internet is also the first European Internet
Service Provider to deliver Microsoft's new browser
software, 'Internet Explorer' which incorporates a
classifications standard. Demon Internet has been taking
action to ensure that the Internet in the UK has informed
and appropriate legislation guarding the interests of
users.
This report not only confuses an extremely complex and
sensitive issue but also smears the integrity of an
honourable, family man. Demon Internet is committed to
eliminating this scourge from this new and rapidly
expanding market. The Internet is bringing great benefit
to millions of users not least your own journalists. For
you to pick on
one aspect in total isolation and present it in such a
lurid fashion, does not help the DTI, the police or
ourselves who are genuinely striving to solve the issues.
Would you please publish this letter in your edition of
1st September. Your unreserved apology and full
retraction, to be given as great prominence as your
original articles, would also be greatly appreciated
Yours faithfully,
A W Mudd
Chairman
--
Malcolm S. Muir Demon Internet Ltd.
Sunderland 322 Regents Park Road
England London N3 2QQ