Alleged ‘Smear Campaigns’ under the legal spotlight in the UK and USA

Alleged ‘Smear Campaigns’ under the legal spotlight in the UK and USA

A recent UK judgment and a number of US court claims have referenced allegations of sophisticated ‘smear campaigns’ being conducted against the claimants by business or personal rivals.

Last week saw judgment on a preliminary issue in Marinakis v Karipidis & Ors*, a claim brought by the owner of Nottingham Forest Football Club who has sued a number of people and companies who he alleges have conducted a defamatory public relations campaign against him. It is said that this has involved the creation of websites, videos, social media posts, and even mobile advertising boards, to make serious allegations against him disguised as a ‘grassroots’ campaign by Nottingham Forest fans. The claim continues.

In unrelated disputes, a number of US celebrities have also recently alleged they are the target of ‘hostile’ campaigns by others, designed to damage their reputation, and have commenced legal proceedings in response. It has been reported that these campaigns involved widespread inauthentic social media postings, and other attempts to establish public narratives critical of the claimants.

One similarity between the UK and one US case is evidence obtained by claimants from Public Relations firms alleged to have been involved.

The legal risks of engaging in such campaigns are clearly obvious.

*Marinakis v Karipidis & Ors [2025] EWHC 13 (KB) (10 January 2025)

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