Which court decided it?

House of Lords in 2006. Neutral citation: [2006] UKHL 44.

Why does it matter for UK journalists?

Reynolds factors are non-exhaustive pointers, not conditions. The defence is not lost by minor faults in the journalist's conduct. Corporations must prove financial loss (later codified in Defamation Act 2013 s.1(2)).

Jameel v Wall Street Journal Europe

[2006] UKHL 44 — House of Lords, 2006

Last reviewed: 14 July 2026Next review due: 14 January 2027

What the court held

The House of Lords reinforced and refined the Reynolds public-interest defence. Applied a more permissive interpretation of the ten factors, treating them as pointers rather than a rigid checklist. Corporate claimants must show damage to the trading interests to sue in defamation.

Key rulings

Reynolds factors are non-exhaustive pointers, not conditions.
The defence is not lost by minor faults in the journalist's conduct.
Corporations must prove financial loss (later codified in Defamation Act 2013 s.1(2)).

Topics

DefamationPublic interest defenceCorporate claimants

Related cases (citator)

How this case connects to others in the landmark set — lines of authority, statutory supersession, and companion rulings.

Reynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd [2001] 2 AC 127
Built on and clarified the Reynolds public-interest defence.
Flood v Times Newspapers Ltd [2012] UKSC 11
Companion authority in the Reynolds responsible-journalism line.

Authoritative source

Read the full judgment on BAILII (British and Irish Legal Information Institute):

https://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKHL/2006/44.html

Cite this page

Format

Jameel v Wall Street Journal Europe [2006] UKHL 44 (House of Lords) &lt;https://www.ukjournohub.com/law/landmark-cases/jameel-wall-street-journal&gt; accessed 14 July 2026.

Please cite when quoting or paraphrasing on UK JournoHub — see /ai.txt for policy.

Related landmark cases

Landmark caseCadwalladr v Banks [2022] EWHC 1417 (QB)Read →Landmark caseDoyle v Smith [2018] EWHC 2935 (QB)Read →Landmark caseFlood v Times Newspapers Ltd [2012] UKSC 11Read →Landmark caseReynolds v Times Newspapers Ltd [2001] 2 AC 127Read →

Case summaries are drafted by UK JournoHub Editorial for practising UK journalists. They are not legal advice. Always consult primary sources and, for high-risk stories, take specialist legal advice.