Temporary restraining order lifted by Federal Court in suit vs. Primedia.

A temporary restraining order granted by state court enjoining Primedia, Inc. (New York) and its employees from "publishing, distributing or disseminating false, defamatory, injurious falsehoods" concerning World Business Media (WBM; New York) and its publication GSN: Government Security News, has been lifted by Federal District Court, Southern District.

The initial order was in response to a suit brought by WBM alleging that advertising representatives of Primedia's Access Control & Security Systems (ACSS) told a CSNadvertiser in an e-mail that GSNhad lost financing and suspended publication. The suit noted additional instances of ACSS making similar statements to potential advertisers. The Judge lifted the restraining order because the six cited instances had all taken place in 2003 and that no further instances had occurred since Primedia was informed.

GSN was launched in 2003 by News Communications, Inc. (New York). It was purchased in September 2003 by WBM, a new company formed Jointly by the publication's founding editor and publisher, and Courtenay Communications Corp. (CCC; New York), the publisher of DM News.

CCC ceo Adrian Courtenay said that ACSS publisher David George had admitted in writing that the six instances had in fact occurred but that Primedia now will not issue a "letter of correction." "All we requested was a statesmanlike letter of correction pointing out that the Primedia reps had inadvertently distributed damaging information about our publication that they later learned to be false."

Primedia senior vice president, law Chris Fraser said "we believe we have very strong defenses" in the action that has been brought. In addition, Fraser said that Primedia has filed a motion to discuss all claims and that the company is currently waiting for WBM's lawyers to respond.