Britney Spears obtains gagging order in Britain over rehab reports

[AFP photo/file]

Lawyers for pop singer Britney Spears said Thursday they had obtained an emergency injunction in London's High Court to prevent further details being leaked about her time in a rehabilitation clinic.

London media law firm Schillings said in a statement that judge Charles Gray had granted an order aimed at preventing "further disclosures invading her privacy".

The 25-year-old singer checked out of the Promises Malibu Treatment Centre after successfully completing a treatment programme, including alcohol counselling, according to a US People magazine report on March 21.

The singer, famous for hits such as "...Baby One More Time" and "Oops!...I Did It Again" has been beset with personal struggles since announcing her split from husband Kevin Federline late last year.

Her every move has been tracked by the media, including when she shaved her head at a salon in full view of the paparazzi last month.

Schillings said in a statement: "We can confirm that an emergency injunction was obtained in London's High Court this afternoon as ordered by Mr Justice Gray on behalf of Britney Spears to restrain the person or persons, known as 'John Doe', who has/have been leaking information about Ms Spears' time in a rehabilitation clinic from further disclosures invading her privacy.

"This injunction will now be served on the UK media so as to assist them in not making the mistake of carrying such further disclosures if approached by this person or his/her agent.

"Ms Spears reserves the right and intends to challenge false allegations which have already been published about her time in rehabilitation and which are the subject of ongoing legal complaint."

The law firm said they had applied to the High Court to seek a further order requiring certain British media organisations to disclose their sources "so that John Doe can be identified and action can be taken against him/her".

It is not possible to sue for invasion of privacy in Britain but various laws are in place to protect individuals, including the Human Rights Act, which incorporates the European Convention of Human Rights.

Article eight of the convention covers the right to privacy.

A number of celebrities in recent years, including supermodel Naomi Campbell and the actors Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, have brought action over press intrusion as an extension of breach of confidence laws.

Clarissa Amato, from Schillings, told AFP the "John Doe injunction" is a English common law device dating back 200 years.

It was used after unauthorised extracts of an unpublished "Harry Potter" book appeared and to prevent animal rights protestors publishing personal details of GlaxoSmithKline shareholders on the Internet.