Forwarded to me by a friend: Path: reboot.demon.co.uk!news.demon.co.uk!dispatch.news.demon.net!demon! muir-et2.staff.demon.net!SERVER!not-for-mail From: malcolm@muir-et2.staff.demon.net (Malcolm Muir) Newsgroups: demon.announce Subject: Letter to the Observer Followup-To: demon.service Date: 1 Sep 96 07:25:38 GMT Organization: Demon Internet Ltd. Lines: 188 Approved: Malcolm@demon.net Message-ID: <32293a72.0@muir-et2.staff.demon.net> Reply-To: pr@demon.net NNTP-Posting-Host: muir-et2.staff.demon.net X-NNTP-Posting-Host: muir-et2.staff.demon.net X-Newsreader: TIN [Windows/NT 1.3 950824BETA PL0] The following letters were delivered to the Editor of the Observer last week as a request to publish a retraction of their article relating to the Internet that appeared on Sunday 25th. August. Since a full retraction has not been published, we feel it is right to circulate copies of the letters to our customers. Copies of the letters may also be viewed on the World Wide Web at: http://www.demon.net/observer1.html (Solicitors Letter) and http://www.demon.net/observer2.html (Open letter from the Chairman) Malcolm Muir Demon Internet --------------------------------------------------------------------- Jeffrey Green Russel Solicitors Apollo House 56 New Bond Street London W1Y 0SX 0171-499 7020 The Editor The Observer Newspaper Guardian Newspapers Limited 119 Farringdon Road London EC1R 3ER 30th August 1996 By Hand and Fax: 0171 713 4250 Our ref: DRJ/JHG/[c]423395/9403.047 Dear Sir, RE: Our Clients: Demon Internet Limited and Mr Clive Feather We act on behalf of Demon Internet Limited and Mr Clive Feather both of whom were the subject of articles which appeared on the front page and on page 19 of your newspaper in the edition of Sunday, 25th August. In the offending article you have represented that our clients are "Pedlars of child abuse" and are "Key links in the international paedophile chain". You have represented that both our clients actively support the supply of paedophile material. This allegation is entirely false and is a most serious and outrageous libel. Our clients are most distressed by the publication of the offending statements which are inaccurate and grossly defamatory of them and which will cause damage to their goodwill and reputation, professionally, commercially and socially. Both Mr Feather and Demon Internet Limited have been the subject of serious expressions of concern and outrage from various of the readers of your newspaper. The damage that you have done to our clients cannot, of course, be undone but it can be mitigated. We require that you mitigate the serious damage that has been done to our clients by publishing the enclosed letter from Mr A W Mudd, Chairman of Demon Internet Limited. You were well aware, when you decided to publish the false article in question, of the damage that would be caused to our clients which is already very considerable and which will form the basis of a claim for special damages. It is open to you to mitigate that substantial loss at the earliest possible time by publishing a full retraction and apology in this coming Sunday's edition of your newspaper. We shall, within the next week or so, issue a Writ and deliver a Statement of Claim. In the meantime, we reserve all our clients' rights in the matter and nothing contained in this letter or in the enclosed letter from Mr Mudd shall be regarded as a diminution or waiver of those rights. Yours faithfully, JEFFREY GREEN RUSSELL --------------------------------------------------------------------- Demon Internet Limited Gateway House 322 Regents Park Road London N3 2QQ 0181 371 1000 Our ref : AWM/SC/28-08 The Editor The Observer Newspaper Guardian Newspapers Limited 119 Farringdon Road London EC1R 3ER 30 August 1996 Dear Sir THE PEDLARS OF CHILD ABUSE Banner headline: Front page and Page 19 : Sunday 25th August 1996 I refer to your articles on the front page and page 19 of last Sundayís paper. I regard these as highly defamatory as well as a poor piece of journalism that sensationalises a serious issue and clouds fact with emotion. I am appalled and outraged that The Observer has printed such a misleading, abusive and inaccurate article - giving the impression to readers that Clive Feather and Demon Internet are the "Pedlars of child abuse". This libellous reporting, littered with malicious lies not only defames the good character and reputation of a valued employee, but also destroys the genuine efforts Demon Internet has been making in conjunction with the police and the DTI to deal effectively with the problem. The articles clearly aimed at sensationalism at any cost with the intention of misleading readers by stating that our employee is an "Internet abuser" immediately after using the word "paedophiles". As the UK's largest provider of Internet access, Demon has taken the lead in discussions with all relevant parties and is in the process of announcing restrictions to illegal material and processes to classify content, enabling users to monitor and report on what is viewed. Demon Internet is also the first European Internet Service Provider to deliver Microsoft's new browser software, 'Internet Explorer' which incorporates a classifications standard. Demon Internet has been taking action to ensure that the Internet in the UK has informed and appropriate legislation guarding the interests of users. This report not only confuses an extremely complex and sensitive issue but also smears the integrity of an honourable, family man. Demon Internet is committed to eliminating this scourge from this new and rapidly expanding market. The Internet is bringing great benefit to millions of users not least your own journalists. For you to pick on one aspect in total isolation and present it in such a lurid fashion, does not help the DTI, the police or ourselves who are genuinely striving to solve the issues. Would you please publish this letter in your edition of 1st September. Your unreserved apology and full retraction, to be given as great prominence as your original articles, would also be greatly appreciated Yours faithfully, A W Mudd Chairman -- Malcolm S. Muir Demon Internet Ltd. Sunderland 322 Regents Park Road England London N3 2QQ