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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Twitter court case defendant pledges to stop 'fantasy' tweets about oil firm | Twitter court case defendant pledges to stop 'fantasy' tweets about oil firm |
| (6 days later) | |
| A Twitter user has promised to stop posting "fantasy information" about an oil company on the site after the firm took legal action. | A Twitter user has promised to stop posting "fantasy information" about an oil company on the site after the firm took legal action. |
| Lawyers told a high court judge that Spencer Freeman's "naive" tweets had caused Gulf Keystone Petroleum huge damage and led to a share price collapse. Freeman gave undertakings to Mr Justice Bean that he would end a Twitter campaign. | Lawyers told a high court judge that Spencer Freeman's "naive" tweets had caused Gulf Keystone Petroleum huge damage and led to a share price collapse. Freeman gave undertakings to Mr Justice Bean that he would end a Twitter campaign. |
| The judge told Freeman that he could be in contempt of court if he does not keep his word. | The judge told Freeman that he could be in contempt of court if he does not keep his word. |
| Matthew Nicklin, Barrister for the oil firm, told Bean in written submissions: "Gulf Keystone knows little about Spencer Freeman, save that he is believed to be a 28-year-old man who, in the last year, has decided to post a large amount of 'information' about Gulf Keystone on Twitter. | Matthew Nicklin, Barrister for the oil firm, told Bean in written submissions: "Gulf Keystone knows little about Spencer Freeman, save that he is believed to be a 28-year-old man who, in the last year, has decided to post a large amount of 'information' about Gulf Keystone on Twitter. |
| "What he has posted on Twitter, he has admitted, is fantasy. But it has caused huge damage to Gulf Keystone." | "What he has posted on Twitter, he has admitted, is fantasy. But it has caused huge damage to Gulf Keystone." |
| Nicklin said his client, which has an office in London, complained last June. He said Freeman had apologised, said he had been "very naive" and would "never do anything like this again". But Nicklin said Freeman reneged on his promise. | Nicklin said his client, which has an office in London, complained last June. He said Freeman had apologised, said he had been "very naive" and would "never do anything like this again". But Nicklin said Freeman reneged on his promise. |
| "He threatened Gulf Keystone that he would embarrass it if it did not sell one of its assets," said Nicklin. "Then he suggested he was going to break 'mega-news' about Gulf Keystone." | "He threatened Gulf Keystone that he would embarrass it if it did not sell one of its assets," said Nicklin. "Then he suggested he was going to break 'mega-news' about Gulf Keystone." |
| Nicklin added: "His posts gave the impression (it is to be inferred, deliberately) that Freeman was someone who was privy to sensitive inside information about Gulf Keystone." | Nicklin added: "His posts gave the impression (it is to be inferred, deliberately) that Freeman was someone who was privy to sensitive inside information about Gulf Keystone." |
| Earlier this year, Freeman tweeted that the company had "sold an important oil asset to Exxon" but said the sale was being "hidden from Gulf Keystone shareholders by an orchestrated PR campaign", the court heard. | Earlier this year, Freeman tweeted that the company had "sold an important oil asset to Exxon" but said the sale was being "hidden from Gulf Keystone shareholders by an orchestrated PR campaign", the court heard. |
| "Mr Freeman claimed that he had 'sounded out' Todd Kozel, the executive chairman and chief executive of Gulf Keystone, to learn the date on which the alleged deal would be revealed," Nicklin added. | "Mr Freeman claimed that he had 'sounded out' Todd Kozel, the executive chairman and chief executive of Gulf Keystone, to learn the date on which the alleged deal would be revealed," Nicklin added. |
| "He recommended that people should purchase Gulf Keystone's shares on the strength of his 'information', all of which was, in fact, simply fantasy." | "He recommended that people should purchase Gulf Keystone's shares on the strength of his 'information', all of which was, in fact, simply fantasy." |
| Nicklin said Gulf Keystone had been driven to take more formal steps. He said: "Gulf Keystone's share price collapsed and Gulf Keystone has been put to substantial management time dealing with disgruntled investors and press inquiries." | Nicklin said Gulf Keystone had been driven to take more formal steps. He said: "Gulf Keystone's share price collapsed and Gulf Keystone has been put to substantial management time dealing with disgruntled investors and press inquiries." |
| He said Freeman deleted his Twitter account earlier this month. | He said Freeman deleted his Twitter account earlier this month. |
| After the hearing Freeman, who represented himself, said he had "no comment". He told the judge: "I have agreed to the undertakings." | After the hearing Freeman, who represented himself, said he had "no comment". He told the judge: "I have agreed to the undertakings." |
| The judge made an order saying Freeman made a number of undertakings, including not to publish statements about sales and share placing. | The judge made an order saying Freeman made a number of undertakings, including not to publish statements about sales and share placing. |
| Ashley Cole called a 'choc ice' on Twitter and Rio Ferdinand laughs | Ashley Cole called a 'choc ice' on Twitter and Rio Ferdinand laughs |
| 14 Jul 2012 | 14 Jul 2012 |
| The fallout from John Terry's court case took a new twist when Rio Ferdinand laughed at a tweet branding Ashley Cole a 'choc ice' | The fallout from John Terry's court case took a new twist when Rio Ferdinand laughed at a tweet branding Ashley Cole a 'choc ice' |
| 22 Mar 2012 | 22 Mar 2012 |
| Shell agrees shale gas deal in China | Shell agrees shale gas deal in China |
| 8 Sep 2011 | 8 Sep 2011 |
| The Kochs' Keystone clique exposed | The Kochs' Keystone clique exposed |
| 10 Jun 2012 | 10 Jun 2012 |
| Kop's keystone | Kop's keystone |
| 15 Dec 2008 | |
| Global oil supply will peak in 2020, says energy agency | |
| Lord Sugar forced to remove Twitter message by high court judge | Lord Sugar forced to remove Twitter message by high court judge |
| 26 May 2011 | 26 May 2011 |
| The Apprentice host ordered by high court judge in January to remove tweet over fears of influencing jury in MP's expenses case. By Jason Deans | The Apprentice host ordered by high court judge in January to remove tweet over fears of influencing jury in MP's expenses case. By Jason Deans |
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| Spencer Freeman tells judge he will halt hoax information against Gulf Keystone Petroleum that led to share price collapse | Spencer Freeman tells judge he will halt hoax information against Gulf Keystone Petroleum that led to share price collapse |
| A Twitter user has promised to stop posting "fantasy information" about an oil company on the site after the firm took legal action. | A Twitter user has promised to stop posting "fantasy information" about an oil company on the site after the firm took legal action. |
| Lawyers told a high court judge that Spencer Freeman's "naive" tweets had caused Gulf Keystone Petroleum huge damage and led to a share price collapse. Freeman gave undertakings to Mr Justice Bean that he would end a Twitter campaign. | Lawyers told a high court judge that Spencer Freeman's "naive" tweets had caused Gulf Keystone Petroleum huge damage and led to a share price collapse. Freeman gave undertakings to Mr Justice Bean that he would end a Twitter campaign. |
| The judge told Freeman that he could be in contempt of court if he does not keep his word. | The judge told Freeman that he could be in contempt of court if he does not keep his word. |
| Matthew Nicklin, Barrister for the oil firm, told Bean in written submissions: "Gulf Keystone knows little about Spencer Freeman, save that he is believed to be a 28-year-old man who, in the last year, has decided to post a large amount of 'information' about Gulf Keystone on Twitter. | Matthew Nicklin, Barrister for the oil firm, told Bean in written submissions: "Gulf Keystone knows little about Spencer Freeman, save that he is believed to be a 28-year-old man who, in the last year, has decided to post a large amount of 'information' about Gulf Keystone on Twitter. |
| "What he has posted on Twitter, he has admitted, is fantasy. But it has caused huge damage to Gulf Keystone." | "What he has posted on Twitter, he has admitted, is fantasy. But it has caused huge damage to Gulf Keystone." |
| Nicklin said his client, which has an office in London, complained last June. He said Freeman had apologised, said he had been "very naive" and would "never do anything like this again". But Nicklin said Freeman reneged on his promise. | Nicklin said his client, which has an office in London, complained last June. He said Freeman had apologised, said he had been "very naive" and would "never do anything like this again". But Nicklin said Freeman reneged on his promise. |
| "He threatened Gulf Keystone that he would embarrass it if it did not sell one of its assets," said Nicklin. "Then he suggested he was going to break 'mega-news' about Gulf Keystone." | "He threatened Gulf Keystone that he would embarrass it if it did not sell one of its assets," said Nicklin. "Then he suggested he was going to break 'mega-news' about Gulf Keystone." |
| Nicklin added: "His posts gave the impression (it is to be inferred, deliberately) that Freeman was someone who was privy to sensitive inside information about Gulf Keystone." | Nicklin added: "His posts gave the impression (it is to be inferred, deliberately) that Freeman was someone who was privy to sensitive inside information about Gulf Keystone." |
| Earlier this year, Freeman tweeted that the company had "sold an important oil asset to Exxon" but said the sale was being "hidden from Gulf Keystone shareholders by an orchestrated PR campaign", the court heard. | Earlier this year, Freeman tweeted that the company had "sold an important oil asset to Exxon" but said the sale was being "hidden from Gulf Keystone shareholders by an orchestrated PR campaign", the court heard. |
| "Mr Freeman claimed that he had 'sounded out' Todd Kozel, the executive chairman and chief executive of Gulf Keystone, to learn the date on which the alleged deal would be revealed," Nicklin added. | "Mr Freeman claimed that he had 'sounded out' Todd Kozel, the executive chairman and chief executive of Gulf Keystone, to learn the date on which the alleged deal would be revealed," Nicklin added. |
| "He recommended that people should purchase Gulf Keystone's shares on the strength of his 'information', all of which was, in fact, simply fantasy." | "He recommended that people should purchase Gulf Keystone's shares on the strength of his 'information', all of which was, in fact, simply fantasy." |
| Nicklin said Gulf Keystone had been driven to take more formal steps. He said: "Gulf Keystone's share price collapsed and Gulf Keystone has been put to substantial management time dealing with disgruntled investors and press inquiries." | Nicklin said Gulf Keystone had been driven to take more formal steps. He said: "Gulf Keystone's share price collapsed and Gulf Keystone has been put to substantial management time dealing with disgruntled investors and press inquiries." |
| He said Freeman deleted his Twitter account earlier this month. | He said Freeman deleted his Twitter account earlier this month. |
| After the hearing Freeman, who represented himself, said he had "no comment". He told the judge: "I have agreed to the undertakings." | After the hearing Freeman, who represented himself, said he had "no comment". He told the judge: "I have agreed to the undertakings." |
| The judge made an order saying Freeman made a number of undertakings, including not to publish statements about sales and share placing. | The judge made an order saying Freeman made a number of undertakings, including not to publish statements about sales and share placing. |