Media

Nine is battling to adduce evidence concerning the reputation of Euro Pacific CEO Peter Schiff, as it scrambles to minimise the damages it will owe after abandoning its substantive defences in defamation proceedings by the bank boss.

Ten has failed in a push to question Bruce Lehrmann on whether he leaked restricted material produced during the accused rapist's criminal trial to select media, as it defends itself against his defamation case, with a judge saying the network was "fishing".

Seven Network has lost its effort to stop convenience chain 7-Eleven from using a contested logo even though Seven had registered the trade mark first, with a court finding the broadcaster sat on the mark for too long before using it. 

Network 10 has dragged its former political editor Peter van Onselen to court for allegedly breaching a clause in a settlement agreement.

The ABC acted with malice when it aired Brittany Higgins' defamatory National Press Club speech in full, and the broadcaster's public interest defence won't save it, accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann has said.

Former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith has lost his defamation case against Nine-owned Fairfax, with a judge finding Thursday it was true that Australia's most decorated soldier committed civilian murders in Afghanistan.

With truth on its side, Nine's defeat of soldier Ben Roberts-Smith's lawsuit was a huge win for investigative journalism in Australia, but while it might make lawyers blink before bringing defamation cases, the victory is not a game-changer, experts say.

Accused rapist Bruce Lehrmann has discontinued his case alleging News Corp and journalist Samantha Maiden defamed him with the publication of two articles on the alleged assault of Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.

Racing NSW CEO Peter V'landys AM has failed to revive his defamation case against the ABC over a 7:30 segment that revealed racehorses were being killed in violation of industry rules, despite the appeals court noting that the report “treated him very shabbily” and “was not high quality journalism.”

The judge overseeing defamation cases brought by accused war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith will deliver his long-awaited findings next week, ruling on whether allegations of civilian murder in Afghanistan against the country’s most decorated living soldier are substantially true.