A reporter for The Australian was involved in an extraordinary tussle with the Mail Online boss Martin Clarke at an event in Cannes. The journalist, Darren Davidson, writes that he was at a party, and tried to get a comment from Clarke about recent allegations that the Mail Online has been lifting articles from other online news sites. News Corp Australia’s lawyers sent the website’s owner, Associated Newspapers, a letter threatening to sue for “breach of copyright and intellectual property rights”, and The Australian has been following the story.
Davidson says that when he asked Clarke about the story, someone snatched his iPad, on which the incident being filmed. The Mail Online chief refused to give it back, and his associates shouted at the reporter and poured beer all over him. He’s transcribed the exchange from an audiotape of the video of the incident. The video was deleted off the iPad.
Davidson: “Martin, give me my iPad.”
Davidson: “Martin, I want the iPad.”
Clarke: “These people are outrageous.”
Davidson: “Martin, give the iPad over right now. Can I have the iPad please.”
PR person: “Is this yours?”
Davidson: “Martin, why have you stolen my iPad?”
Clarke: “I think you will find you will get it back.”
Davidson: “Why did you do that?”
Davidson: “Come on Martin, answer the question.”
Davidson: “Okay, I’ve been physically assaulted again by a representative from the Mail Online.”
(PR woman pushes and jabs her arm into my stomach)
Davidson: “Martin, why did you steal my iPad?”
(Clarke hands the iPad to a woman, then runs down the street. I recover the iPad from another person.)
Never mind “lifting” stories; it looks like Clarke is the story.
We were unable to reach the Mail Online for comment.
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