26 July - 15 August 2004

Gavin Phillipson
Senior Lecturer, Department of Law and Assistant Director, Human Rights Centre
University of Durham, United Kingdom

Gavin Phillipson presented the keynote address at the CMCL Privacy Seminar, 'Campbell, Hosking and von Hannover - Implications for Australia' on 3 August ( Melbourne ) and 4 August ( Sydney ). The seminar explored the Australian implications of three recent decisions: Campbell v MGN Ltd (UK House of Lords), Hosking v Runting (NZ Court of Appeal), and von Hannover v Germany (European Court of Human Rights). More information.

During his visit, Gavin engaged in intensive research about Australian law on breach of confidence, privacy and freedom of expression. His visit to the CMCL also provided an opportunity to discuss future research opportunities that build on the ARC Privacy Project, 'Establishing an Optimal Legal Framework for Online Privacy' held by Professor Sam Ricketson and Associate Professor Megan Richardson.

Gavin has been appointed to the honorary position of Senior Fellow of the Melbourne Law School.

More information about Gavin Phillipson.

1 June - 23 July 2004

Lawrence McNamara
Lecturer, Division of Law, Macquarie University, Australia

ILawrence McNamara conducted research on the project, ‘Using libel laws to determine the truth of history: Asking questions about the Holocaust and colonial genocide in Tasmania’.

The project aims to explore the ways libel laws mediate and regulate truth and racism when histories and historians are subjected to legal judgment. It is expected that the project will inform scholarship in both law and history and make a unique contribution to the very public debates about understanding and coming to terms with the past in Australia and elsewhere.

More information about Lawrence McNamara.

Professor David Caudill
School of Law, Washington & Lee University, United States of America

David Caudill presented the keynote address at the CMCL seminar, 'Protecting Celebrities: The Right to Publicity in the US and Australia' on Thursday 27 May (Melbourne) and Tuesday 1 June (Sydney). Professor Caudill, who represented NFL football star Tony Dorsett of the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos in numerous endorsement and licensing deals, discussed US variations on the right of publicity, which is recognised in half the states under common law or statute. More information.

Professor Caudill's visit also provided an opportunity to discuss future research opportunities in relation to comparative entertainment and media law, in particular ways of building on the significant work that David Lindsay, Associate Professor Megan Richardson and Professor Sam Ricketson have been conducting in relation to privacy law.

Professor Caudill has been appointed to the honorary position of Senior Fellow of the Melbourne Law School.

More information about Professor David Caudill.

Ursula Cheer
Senior Lecturer, Canterbury University, New Zealand

Ursula's visit facilitated research into defamation law in New Zealand and Australia. In particular, her research focussed on the effect on defamation law on journalism, the extent to which stories with a high element of public interest are suppressed or edited before publication, and any resulting impact on freedom of expression. Ursula's research links closely with the ARC-funded project, 'Defamation Law in Context: Australian and US News Production Practices and Public Debate', held by Dr Andrew Kenyon and Dr Tim Marjoribanks.

Ursula regularly contributes reports about New Zealand media law developments to the Media & Arts Law Review.

Ursula has been appointed to the honorary position of Senior Fellow of the Melbourne Law School.

Lawrence McNamara
Lecturer, Division of Law, Macquarie University, Australia

Lawrence McNamara conducted research on the project, 'The Resconstruction of Reputation: Re-thinking the Tests for What is Defamatory’. Although the tort of defamation is said to protect reputation, there appears to be no logical, principled statement of law with respect to what is defamatory. The aim of this project is to address this flaw: if reputation is the interest to be protected by defamation, then what is - or should be - defamatory? The premise of the question is central to the inquiry; my argument is that reputation is the only point of reference which can provide the basis for logic and principle in the law.

More information about Lawrence McNamara.

Professor Raymond Wacks
Emeritus Professor of Law and Legal Theory, University of Hong Kong

Professor Wacks was the keynote speaker at a CMCL Privacy Seminar, 'Why There Will Never be a Common Law Privacy Tort', on Thursday 5 February 2004. This seminar examined issues facing common law courts in developing legal responses for the protection of privacy, including an analysis of recent English, Australian and New Zealand decisions. More information.

Professor Wacks' visit also provided an opportunity to conduct intensive research and to engage in dialogue with CMCL members on current issues in privacy law. His research links closely with the ARC Privacy Project, 'Establishing an Optimal Legal Framework for Online Privacy' held by Professor Sam Ricketson and Associate Professor Megan Richardson.

Professor Wacks has been appointed to the honorary position of Senior Fellow of the Melbourne Law School.

More information about Professor Raymond Wacks.

Lesley Hitchens
Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law
University of New South Wales, Australia

Lesley Hitchens engaged in intensive research on the ARC Privacy Project, 'Establishing an Optimal Legal Framework for Online Privacy' held by Professor Sam Ricketson and Associate Professor Megan Richardson. Lesley Hitchens is the third Chief Investigator on this project.

More information about Lesley Hitchens.

10 - 12 December 2003

Professor Wendy Gordon
Professor of Law and Paul J Laicos Scholar in Law
Boston University, United States of America

Professor Gordon presented the keynote address, 'Rendering Copyright Unto Caesar: Free Speech, Locke and the Sphere of Gift', at the combined CMCL and Australian Law and Economics Association (AustLEA) end of year celebration on Thursday 11 December 2003.

More information about Professor Wendy Gordon.