Real History and the Lengthening Arm of Internet Law The Index to the Traditional Enemies of Free Speech Alphabetical index (text) the origins of anti-Semitism [images added by this website] Dow Jones Settles Defamation Lawsuit Filed in Australia MELBOURNE, Australia — A long-running legal battle credited with extending the reach of Australia’s libel laws to the Internet ended Friday with Dow Jones & Co.

settling a defamation action launched against it by an Australian mining magnate. The case started after mining boss Joe Gutnick claimed that a small portion of a 7,000-word article (left) that appeared in Barron’s magazine in October 2000 portrayed him as having engaged in money laundering and tax evasion. Dow Jones, which publishes The Wall Street Journal in addition to Barron’s , argued that the case should have been heard in the U.S. because the article originally was published there.

But in December 2002, the High Court of Australia unanimously ruled the case could be heard in Mr. Gutnick’s home state of Victoria because people there could have read the article online. Lawyers for Dow Jones on Friday read in Victoria Supreme Court a clarification previously published in Barron’s, following out-of-court mediation, saying Barron’s hadn’t intended to allege that Mr.

Gutnick was a customer of a Melbourne man, Nachum Goldberg , (right), who was jailed for tax evasion and money laundering . Mr. Gutnick never had challenged the bulk of the article concerning him. Dow Jones also agreed to pay Mr. Gutnick about US$154,000 to cover some of his court costs.

Write to the Online Journal’s editors at [email protected] Our website dossier: The origins of anti-Semitism Corruption latest: Joseph Gutnick may sue Australian premier Howard The Guardian on Joe Gutnick: How Diamond Joe’s libel case could change the future of the internet | Dow Jones Must Defend Action by Gutnick in Australia Good news Australian Joe Gutnick, Israeli Settlement Financier, no longer feels in danger The above item is reproduced without editing other than typographical 2004