In Parish v. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. [2024] EWHC 2301, the claimant had brought a claim against the defendant in respect of material on his Wikipedia page which he alleged was defamatory of him. The claimant obtained permission to serve that claim on the defendant out of the jurisdiction, in California. The defendant applied for an order setting aside the grant of permission and declaring that the court had no jurisdiction to hear the claim. Today Mrs Justice Steyn gave judgment granting the application and dismissing the claimant’s claim, ruling that (a) the claimant had not shown that, of all the places in which the statement complained of has been published, England and Wales was clearly the most appropriate place in which to bring an action in respect of the statement pursuant to section 9 of the Defamation Act 2013; (b) the claimant had breached his duty of full and frank disclosure; and (c) there was no real prospect of the claimant defeating a defence of limitation pursuant to section 8 of the 2013 Act.
Ian Helme appeared on behalf of the defendant Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., instructed by Bird & Bird.
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