Are we going to see plenty of bootlicking in future reviews? I
can't imagine myself making up good things to say about the current
crop of Chinese cars.
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070615/1/498sh.html
(AFP) Australian food critics were Friday mulling whether they
could ever write a bad review again after the High Court ruled that
an unfavourable appraisal of a Sydney restaurant was
defamatory.
Coco Roco closed within months of the review and its owners, who
had spent 3 million dollars (2.5 million US) refitting its
waterside premises, claimed they lost 2,700 customers immediately
after it was published.
In a 6-1 decision released on Thursday, the High Court found that
the review was an attack on the restaurant as a business. Further
hearings will now be held for the newspaper to present it's defence
and for the court to determine what, if any, damages are
applicable.
Critics say the decision could lead to a stifling of true reviews
of not just restaurants, but theatre, concerts and art.
(Full story in the link)