Gina Ford legal dispute with Mumsnet.com Ltd

We would like to clarify that, contrary to reports in the media, Gina Ford did not take legal action against Mumsnet.com Ltd because its members disagreed with her childcare advice. Gina Ford reluctantly took legal action against Mumsnet.com Ltd because, over a lengthy period of time, they did not uphold their policy of removing postings that were obscene, malicious or contained personal attacks.

Contrary to claims made by Justine Roberts of Mumsnet.com Ltd that there were only a handful of robust comments posted on the Mumsnet.com Ltd site, the papers put together by Gina Ford's lawyers show that there were more than 20 pages of obscene, malicious and personal attacks made not only about Gina Ford, but also about her late mother.

Since the Mumsnet.com Ltd webchat with Nick Clegg, and his criticism of Gina Ford's methods in the newspapers, there have been further personal and malicious attacks on the Mumsnet.com Ltd site against Gina Ford and her late mother.

While Gina Ford agrees that the UK libel laws should be improved, this does not absolve Mumsnet.com Ltd from their legal and moral responsibility as a publisher to moderate obscene or inflammatory comments, or malicious personal attacks on Gina Ford or, indeed, any other member of society.

The Contentedbaby.com Team

Mumsnet Case Raises Issues Of Responsibility Over Blog Libel, Foot Anstey Solicitors, 16th May 2007

Parent website settles libel case, BBC News, 10th May 2007

Websites like Mumsnet are not above the law, Times Online, 23rd May 2007