Defamation case: an update

James Cropper plc wants to avoid reputational damage caused by being linked to the most controversial parts of the arms trade with Israel. But the best way to do that is to invest in industry that we can be proud of. And not use legal threats against activists.

Background

James Cropper plc is a company based in Burneside Cumbria. Although it is known for making paper products, it also manufactures "technical fibre products", materials which are used in military aircraft, including the F35 warplane. Israel has used the F35 extensively against civilians in Gaza.

"Paper Not Planes" is a campaign made up of local people who are concerned about the company's role in the arms trade with Israel. For the past 2 years, we have been running a campaign against James Cropper plc, calling on the company to invest in making beautiful paper, not warplanes.

Legal threats

Following a series of actions, including an occupation of the factory, a protest at the company's AGM, and a walk from Kendal to Burneside, James Cropper plc sent a series of threatening letters to campaigners.

The initial letter (sent in February 2026), came after we managed to get James Cropper plc removed from the list of sponsors for the "Multiplicity" design industry event in London, by bringing attention to role of James Cropper plc in one of the most controversial parts of the arms trade.

James Cropper plc claimed that statements made by the campaign were defamatory. In particular, they took objection to:

"published statements claiming that our company and its “bosses” (i.e. officers) and owners have “complicity in genocide”, that the company is hiding involvement in war crimes, and that our materials are knowingly used for “warplanes that have been used in the Gaza genocide”. These allegations are categorically untrue."

A SLAPP suit?

Based on the Index on Censorship's assessment tool, we believe that it is possible that this constituted a Strategic lawsuit against public participation (or SLAPP). This is a "form of judicial harassment aimed at intimidating and ultimately silencing anyone who speaks out on issues of political or societal importance".

The UK's defamation law is well known for allowing the rich and powerful to silence journalists and activists acting in the public interest, with the threat of massive legal costs hanging over the individuals named.

Our response

In response, the campaign website was updated to clarify the basis on which the decision was made to remove the company from the list of sponsors at the event.

However, the company persisted with the threats, sending a second letter a few days later.

Paper Not Planes received generous support from a law firm with expertise in defamation cases, defending the rights of activists, and expertise in cases related to the genocide in Gaza. Paper Not Planes launched a crowdfunder for legal costs - thank you to everyone who contributed!

Our lawyers responded to James Cropper plc, providing clear legal argumentation to explain that the threatening letters were "devoid of legal merit". In particular, our lawyers showed that the statements the company objected to were factually correct, published in the public interest, and constituted honest opinion. In addition, they were very similar to statements published more than 12 months previously, which means the company was too late to bring a defamation case.

However, James Cropper plc also got their lawyers involved, and seemed intent on pursuing the case against a number of named individuals involved in the campaign. Ttaking the case all the way to court could cost the individuals upwards of £100,000. James Cropper plc should be investing in industry that the community can be proud of - not getting tangled up in court cases to silence local people. So, in order to avoid the risk of a massive legal bill, the campaign has decided to negotiate some minor changes to how we talk about James Cropper plc.

Agreement

We have reached agreement with James Cropper plc that we will not publish or cause, authorise or procure the publication of, any statements which convey a number of specific meanings.

We will continue

This is only the start of our campaign- the threats will not silence us.

• On 29th April 2026, more than 30 Paper Not Planes activists blockaded the James Cropper plc factory for more than 3 hours.

• We will continue to call Israel a genocidal and apartheid state, and demand an end to occupation.

• We continue to take action against James Cropper plc's involvement in the most controversial parts of the arms trade with Israel.

• We are joining with activists to take action against companies in the UK who continue to supply arms to Israel.