The Don
2003-10-01 09:03:03 UTC
Briefs battle Net gossip
By WILL BARKER
LAWYERS yesterday leapt into action to stamp on emails linking a string of
Premiership footballers with the alleged hotel gang-rape.
One email was allegedly traced to an employee of a large company. He has
been put on notice while the claim is investigated.
And the legal eagles threaten to sue anyone else circulating such emails -
in a crackdown on wild internet gossip about the case.
Dozens of players have been linked to the scandal on the Net - many entirely
unconnected with the night of the alleged attack.
The lawyers have warned they will go to the High Court in the first known
case of its kind to beat web gossip.
They believe the only other similar case was when David Beckham took action
against the Popbitch site which contained an untrue rumour about the England
skipper.
Last night experts were shocked that the players' lawyers were picking on
one emailer rather than a website.
Internet lawyer Adam Glass said: "It's a highly unusual action. I've never
heard of lawyers concentrating on one individual.
"They're using one unfortunate person as an example to scare others into
stemming the spread. It will be very interesting under what terms they're
taking the action."
Andrew Craig, deputy editor of internet mag Web User, said: "This is
unprecedented."
By WILL BARKER
LAWYERS yesterday leapt into action to stamp on emails linking a string of
Premiership footballers with the alleged hotel gang-rape.
One email was allegedly traced to an employee of a large company. He has
been put on notice while the claim is investigated.
And the legal eagles threaten to sue anyone else circulating such emails -
in a crackdown on wild internet gossip about the case.
Dozens of players have been linked to the scandal on the Net - many entirely
unconnected with the night of the alleged attack.
The lawyers have warned they will go to the High Court in the first known
case of its kind to beat web gossip.
They believe the only other similar case was when David Beckham took action
against the Popbitch site which contained an untrue rumour about the England
skipper.
Last night experts were shocked that the players' lawyers were picking on
one emailer rather than a website.
Internet lawyer Adam Glass said: "It's a highly unusual action. I've never
heard of lawyers concentrating on one individual.
"They're using one unfortunate person as an example to scare others into
stemming the spread. It will be very interesting under what terms they're
taking the action."
Andrew Craig, deputy editor of internet mag Web User, said: "This is
unprecedented."