The English PEN is analyzing the country’s stiff libel laws– collecting examples of publishers who self-censored, rather than end up in a costly court battle
According to Bookseller, a libel case can rock a publisher with up to £500,000 in expenses. Legal consultation and proofreading to avoid these courtroom battles can add £2,000 to a manuscript’s price-tag.
Jonathan Heawood, who directs the program for PEN, explained in the article: “Stories and books, which have a strong claim to the public interest, have been suppressed by the threat of libel action. Because of the extortionate costs involved, most publishers would rather settle out of court than face the risk of an unsuccessful trial.”