2008 May 1

Manson v. Moffett, [2008] O.J. No. 1697

In this ruling awarding libel damages to the plaintiff, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice stated that “by any reasonable definition, anything disseminated on the internet is intended for consumption by a wide audience and easily meets any reasonable definition of ‘publication’.”  “Indeed, the very concept of a ‘worldwide web’ invites no other reasonable interpretation.” Although the defendant was not ordinarily resident in Ontario, the Court also granted an injunction “enjoining the defendant from engaging in the impugned conduct”.