Home Gaming Another update on our legal case

Another update on our legal case

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Yes unfortunately our legal case with Colin Webster, the General Secretary of the MSSA, is still on going and likely won’t be completed until at least the 22nd of May when the next court date is set for.

However we do have an update to pass on to you wonderful people. If you’re not sure what I’m talking about and why Colin Webster is taking me to court then you can read up here but in a nut shell I wrote an article detailing, factually, what we feel Colin Webster is doing but also made one small factual error.

I fixed that error as soon as it was pointed out but we are still being taken to court over it even though 99% of the article isn’t under official dispute.

At the first court date all the advocates agreed that neither side had enough time to accurately argue their cases (as far as I can tell, not a lawyer here) so the case was stood down until the 22nd of May.

Since then Colin has filed his responding affidavit and should have filed his heads of argument by the 7th of May. I haven’t heard if he has done so but I presume he has. Now my team has until the 21st of May to file our heads of argument before heading to battle in the Pretoria High Court.

All of this has cost a considerable amount of money. I posted previously about our legal fund if you were interested in donating to and the response was truly humbling. I received far more than I ever expected and along with our shirt sales we have managed to secure around R35 000 in funding. I’ve been able to add about the same myself. But unfortunately that still left me quite a long way away from being able to cover all the costs, yes litigation costs a bomb.

But a guardian angel has appeared and I’d like to give them a very special mention.

They are called the Media Legal Defence Initiative and their mission statement is quite clear.

“The Media Legal Defence Initiative is a non-governmental organisation which helps journalists, bloggers and independent media outlets around the world defend their rights.”

They go on into some more detail

“We help journalists who publish via print, broadcast or the internet, by making sure they have good lawyers to defend them. If necessary we pay legal fees and we work alongside lawyers to make sure the best possible legal defence is provided. We work directly with individual lawyers around the world, and we also have partnerships with national organisations who provide legal aid to journalists. Our long-term goal is to strengthen media legal defence capacity around the world by supporting initiatives that enhance the legal knowledge, skills and effectiveness of those working in the field.”

I don’t know what is more amazing for me, the fact that the main portion of the financials have now been covered and I can concentrate solely on the case or that an official Media Fund has found this case important enough to back.

This is not only a defining moment in my life as a trade journalist but also for gaming as an industry; not to mention a turning point for large blogs and sites out there. I truly expect this case to become something that is used in court cases moving forward when blogs or independent sites are attacked and attempts are made to classify them as non-media.

The world has moved on and Internet sites are now providing more people with more information than probably all the worlds newspapers combined.

TL;DR

I’m back in court on the 22nd of May with the massive backing of the community and the international backing of the Media Legal Defence Initiative who I will definitely be donating to as I move forward with my career. If you have ever donated to them then I personally thank you and if like me you are a member of the media and appreciate this sort of backing then please do give them a donation here.

I strongly believe I didn’t defame or post libel information about Colin Webster and I will definitely keep you informed of how the case progresses. Until then please do not insult Mr Webster in the comments as he is attempting to use comments that I haven’t seen as proof that I am defaming him.

If you see any comments that are defaming Mr Webster, or anyone else, please notify me and it will be acted on promptly. As always.

As a side note, if you ever get sued by Colin Webster please contact me (gavin@lazygamer.net) and I will be happy to help out in any way that I can.

Last Updated: May 9, 2014

76 Comments

  1. Draco Lusus

    May 9, 2014 at 11:38

    Got my shirt, thanks…medium is HUGE tho 😛

    Reply

    • Rincethis

      May 9, 2014 at 11:43

      HAHAH! Me too, thing is the size of a tent!

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Space

        May 9, 2014 at 11:50

        Hehe, no Rince, that’s NOT what she said

        Reply

        • Rincethis

          May 9, 2014 at 11:51

          No, but it’s what I DID Ba dum chi!

          Reply

          • Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!

            May 9, 2014 at 12:23

            You did something the size of a tent?

      • Jedi JJ

        May 9, 2014 at 11:54

        Well, we can all go show our support by camping outside the courthouse at least. Luckily the sleeves are long enough to work now for the winter 😉 And I’m not a short guy.

        Reply

        • Rincethis

          May 9, 2014 at 11:54

          HAHAHAHA! WIN 🙂

          Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        May 9, 2014 at 11:59

        My XXXL is a bit roomy. To the pub! I need to level up my beer belly.

        Reply

        • Rincethis

          May 9, 2014 at 12:00

          Onward Watson! Lower the strip pole and lather it up with grease!

          Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      May 9, 2014 at 11:43

      weird.. the Large and XL were normal sized.. will check one of the other mediums

      Reply

      • Draco Lusus

        May 9, 2014 at 11:46

        I was going on band shirts, in comparison, its around the size of a large me thinks. But all is good.

        Reply

      • Jedi JJ

        May 9, 2014 at 11:59

        This medium has no standard measurements on any of the dimensions (I will leave out why I know this). But to be honest, it really doesn’t bother me. It’s for support, not fashion.

        Reply

        • HvR - THE Average GAmer

          May 9, 2014 at 12:07

          NOT FASHION!!!!

          Ek het daai hemp gerock by die Spur terwyl ek my gauco en bacon burger geeet het.

          Reply

          • Jedi JJ

            May 9, 2014 at 12:08

            Ek moet nog kans kry om myne uit te vat vir ‘n test drive.
            This weekend baby!

  2. Rincethis

    May 9, 2014 at 11:43

    Good luck Gavin! Will keep an eye out here for you too 😉

    Reply

  3. Kromas

    May 9, 2014 at 11:45

    Still waiting for my shirts
    🙁

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief in Space

      May 9, 2014 at 11:47

      Shirts? More than one?

      Reply

      • Kromas

        May 9, 2014 at 11:47

        Why would I ever buy just 1?

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief in Space

          May 9, 2014 at 11:49

          Haha, I can’t have duplicates, would be wrong in my wardrobe, since the only duplicates I have in there, are of socks (and that’s for left and right)

          Reply

          • Kromas

            May 9, 2014 at 11:50

            I rarely go out clothes shopping cause I hate shopping in general so I always need more T-Shirts. 😛

          • Hammersteyn

            May 9, 2014 at 12:01

            Same, also if I see someone wearing the same shirt like me I immediately don’t want to wear it any more. But not rugby jerseys or lagz shirts.

          • DarthZA

            May 9, 2014 at 12:35

            When a guy sees a guy wearing the same shirt as him, instant best friends. Girls are the ones that don’t like it…

          • Hammersteyn

            May 9, 2014 at 12:43

            Then I’m a girl

    • Gavin Mannion

      May 9, 2014 at 11:51

      Everyone should have received by now… did you get a tracking number?

      Reply

      • Kromas

        May 9, 2014 at 11:52

        No but Zoe called me the other day asking where I wanted to pick it up. I was rather busy in a meeting so I think I said Rand Park Ridge.

        Edit: I did mark that I would pick it up myself on the order.

        Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          May 9, 2014 at 11:56

          ah.. then it’s at my place.. I was meant to phone you already :)… will SMS you the address when I get home. will organise a time

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 9, 2014 at 11:56

            Is there biltong too? I know there are chillies, but is there biltong?

          • Kromas

            May 9, 2014 at 11:57

            Holding my shirts ransom I see.

            Okay fine! I will buy a console!

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 9, 2014 at 11:58

            DON’T DO IT MAN!!!!!

          • Kromas

            May 9, 2014 at 11:59

            BUT THE SHIRTS!!!!

            “The good of the many outweigh the good of the few” – Spock

          • Jedi JJ

            May 9, 2014 at 12:00

            “Your lack of faith is disturbing”

          • Rincethis

            May 9, 2014 at 12:00

            Isn’t that ‘needs?’ Heathen!

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 9, 2014 at 12:06

            HAHAHA

          • Kromas

            May 9, 2014 at 12:06

            Dammit … its friday.

          • Rincethis

            May 9, 2014 at 12:13

            Indeed – teal’c

          • Kromas

            May 9, 2014 at 12:44

            Kri! Jaffa!

          • Jedi JJ

            May 9, 2014 at 12:09

            I was staring at that for quite a while and couldn’t figure out why it sounded so strange.

          • Admiral Chief in Space

            May 9, 2014 at 12:11

            Because YOU are strange?
            😛

          • Jedi JJ

            May 9, 2014 at 12:13

            Sounds plausible.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            May 9, 2014 at 13:49

            Because it’s from that stupid Groot Trek series.

  4. Kieran Luke Druzynski

    May 9, 2014 at 11:47

    Awesome news, just a pity South Africa doesn’t have this sort of institution backing you.

    Reply

  5. Matthew Holliday

    May 9, 2014 at 11:57

    How is Colin covering his Legal costs?
    Is the MSSA/government covering them? or is it out of his own pocket?

    when we have one tournament a year with a decent prize pool, the idea of an MSSA member dropping the best part of R100k , just so that he can pretend to be the big dog, i start to wonder(again) where the MSSA’s priorities lie.

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph

      May 9, 2014 at 12:23

      I’m also be curious about the source of Colin’s legal funding but since the MSSA is a private organisation and Colin is a private individual I’m fairly certain that even if the MSSA is assisting in the funding neither of them would make any information available to non-MSSA members and the members are likely to face some form of penalty if they make public any private information of either party.

      Reply

      • Tarisma

        May 9, 2014 at 13:19

        Me thinks we need a mole

        Reply

        • Kensei Seraph

          May 9, 2014 at 13:38

          Avo seems perfect for the job.

          Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        May 9, 2014 at 13:23

        I have been told the money is coming from him personally. Yet i fail to believe he is paying real money on a case that is as ‘precarious’ as this.

        I truly expected a real settlement offer or an acceptance of our settlement offer, but he is adament he wants his day in court and so I can only oblige.

        Reply

  6. Hammersteyn

    May 9, 2014 at 11:58

    Thanks again for my spiffy shirt, now everyone at the pub is going to ask me again about Lazygamer. So you see it’s an advertisement as well. Good luck Gavin. So glad we could help.

    Reply

  7. Alien Emperor Trevor

    May 9, 2014 at 12:03

    That’s some pretty good news.

    Reply

  8. James Anderton

    May 9, 2014 at 12:04

    Got my shirt. GL Gavin!

    Reply

  9. Unavengedavo

    May 9, 2014 at 12:09

    Can I still buy a T-shirt or a beany, or cup with darryn in a mankini?

    Reply

    • Jedi JJ

      May 9, 2014 at 12:11

      You’d put your mouth to something with Darryn in a mankini on? You’re more mad than I thought.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief in Space

        May 9, 2014 at 12:12

        HAHAHAHA

        Reply

      • Unavengedavo

        May 9, 2014 at 12:12

        Why do you think I made the picture in the first place?

        Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      May 9, 2014 at 13:21

      Beanies are coming soon… will see what stock we have left and then put them up for sale as well

      Reply

      • Rincethis

        May 9, 2014 at 13:34

        Just make sure you don’t order the medium size…

        Reply

        • Draco Lusus

          May 9, 2014 at 16:03

          HAHAHAHA, classic

          Reply

      • Kromas

        May 9, 2014 at 13:35

        Dammit! … Put me down for 2!

        Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          May 9, 2014 at 13:39

          at R800 a pop.. wow you are generous 🙂

          Reply

          • Kromas

            May 9, 2014 at 13:42

            I collect Beanies. I have one from just about every country I have visited. (Technically a sherpa hat from the Andes is not really a beanie but close enough)

  10. Jonah Cash

    May 9, 2014 at 12:14

    Go get them man!! We here are all still right behind you!!

    Reply

  11. Kensei Seraph

    May 9, 2014 at 12:25

    To Gavin: good luck, I’m sure that the case will be decided in your favour.
    To the men and women of the Media Legal Defence Initiative, thanks for assisting.

    Reply

  12. Caz Ebber

    May 9, 2014 at 13:05

    If being a complete doos was a crime, you would have been locked up ages ago Gavin. But it’s not. So you walk freely. Still hope you go down.

    Reply

    • Draco Lusus

      May 9, 2014 at 13:15

      Aren’t you a ray of fucking sunshine. I recommend a visit to the gynaecologist, you seem to have a sever case of sandy vagina.

      Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      May 9, 2014 at 13:20

      Go down for what exactly? For posting information that some people would prefer it stay hidden?

      Reply

      • Tarisma

        May 9, 2014 at 13:22

        Damn you Gavin for telling the truth. Didn’t you know all successful journalism is owned by the “man” I mean look at the beacon of success ANN7 is!

        Reply

      • Johann Coetzee

        May 11, 2014 at 17:52

        Dont feed the troll.

        Reply

    • Sageville

      May 9, 2014 at 18:04

      Wow, the twat is strong in this one

      Reply

  13. Ezio Auditore da Firenze

    May 10, 2014 at 07:05

    Defend them freedums! I can’t believe this even went to trial. Sounded to me like you made good as soon as you realized. Good luck, amicus.

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      May 10, 2014 at 08:19

      as soon as I was informed that it wasn’t ‘that’ sort of case I changed it and left a note.. I even have timestamps in my audit trail of the article to prove that. But again I’m not a lawyer and Colin is well within his right to seek legal help if he feel’s slighted

      Reply

      • Ezio Auditore da Firenze

        May 10, 2014 at 21:55

        That is true. Here in the states it would be considered libel, but generally if the person or group issues an apology, or amend the original article, all is forgiven (unless they are out for “blood”). I just don’t see it as necessary to bring the court into a case that could have been settled outside of it. Hopefully justice will prevail.

        Reply

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