McLibel

Overview

McDonald's loved weaponising UK libel laws to suppress criticism. Major media organisations crumbled and apologised. In the longest trial in English legal history, the 'McLibel Two' (gardener Helen Steel and postman Dave Morris) represented themselves against the fast food giant's £10 million legal team. Every aspect of business was cross-examined: junk food and McJobs, animal cruelty, environmental damage and advertising to children. McDonald's tries every trick in the book against the courageous duo: legal manoeuvres, a visit from Ronald McDonald, top executives flying to London for secret settlement negotiations. Even spies. Seven years later, in February 2005, the marathon legal battle finally concluded at the European Court of Human Rights. And the result took everyone by surprise - especially the British Government. McLibel is not just about hamburgers. It's about the importance of freedom of speech now that multinational corporations are more powerful than countries.