Copyright, Privacy and Publishing Photographs of Criminal Defendants

European Human Rights Cases, 2017, Issue 1

10 Pages Posted: 28 Jan 2018

See all articles by Ronan Ó Fathaigh

Ronan Ó Fathaigh

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR)

Kim de Beer

Performing Arts Fund

Date Written: January 18, 2018

Abstract

In Het Parool v. the Netherlands, the European Court was called upon to consider a claim under a provision in copyright law that limited a newspaper’s freedom to publish an accused person’s photograph. The Court held, in effect, that a person charged with a violent homicide may seek damages from a newspaper for publishing his photograph, even where the article is “true and correct,” concerns a matter of “serious public concern,” where the photograph “does not contain details” of his private life, and was not obtained using “subterfuge or other illicit means”. Given the significance of the decision for the potential liability of newspapers when reporting on criminal proceedings, this article considers (a) the Court's application of the "fair balance" test under Axel Springer, (b) the Court's standard of review, and (c) the Court's consideration of prior case law on the question.

Keywords: Privacy, copyright, media freedom, criminal proceedings

Suggested Citation

Ó Fathaigh, Ronan and de Beer, Kim, Copyright, Privacy and Publishing Photographs of Criminal Defendants (January 18, 2018). European Human Rights Cases, 2017, Issue 1, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3104641

Ronan Ó Fathaigh (Contact Author)

University of Amsterdam - Institute for Information Law (IViR) ( email )

Nieuwe Achtergracht 166
Amsterdam, 1000 BA
Netherlands

Kim De Beer

Performing Arts Fund

Kon. Julianaplein 10, 2595 AA
Den Haag, South Holland
Netherlands

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