BL> I think I prefer the Australian libel laws which protect small
 BL> unimportant people when there is no public issue involved. We
 BL> can still attack public figures... assuming they don't own the
 BL> newspapers, TV stations, and judges.

 JG> Wouldn't it make sense that it must be in the public interest
 JG> AND true? 

  Of course. It has to be true... and in the public interest. Most
court cases concentrate on the public interest issue because it is
harder to prove a fact than disprove it. That's the real key to Oz
libel laws... the need for the defendant to *prove* public interest.
Most laws are written the other way... the prosecution has to do the
proving.

 JG> "Public interest" is already opinion based (the judges) anyway.
 JG> Truth is truth if it can be proven. Just ask the NSW Police
 JG> Dept if you don't believe me about truth. 

  Exactly.

Regards,
Bob
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
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