Libel Suits Against American Media in Foreign Courts

This Comment will first explore the gradual growth of American media into a leading position in foreign markets. English libel law and a current English action, Papandreou v. Time will then be discussed. Next, Canadian libel law and a recent Canadian action, Pindling v. National Broadcasting Company (NBC), will be examined. American libel law will be then described together with two recent suits filed in the United States, Sharon v. Time and Desai v. Hersh. An analysis of how, in each instance, the choice of forum was supported by the plaintiff\u27s goals in filing the suit will lead to the conclusion that both the Papandreou and Pindling suits may have been properly filed in foreign courts, and that it is too early to pinpoint a trend in forum-shopping among libel plaintiffs based solely upon a handful of cases filed in foreign courts against American media defendants