Ditch the bloggers code of conduct - learn some media law instead

According to Jemima Kiss's story in today's Guardian

A survey by legal firm DLA Piper said 46% of web users think bloggers should sign up to a code that reflected the laws on defamation, intellectual property and incitement, with 15% ambivalent and 4% strongly opposed.

Now I work in PR. I also blog. I can spot a PR survey when I see one (though why I can't find it on the DLA Piper site I don't know), but this seems particularly self serving.

Such a code of conduct just would not be worth the paper it is written. Surely the law is the law and if you break it, then you're responsible.

Yes, maybe bloggers need a bit of education in media law, but suggesting that there is a code of practice is a waste of time.

Isn't it?

In the meantime Mike Butcher (of techcrunch fame) has a very handy primer on defamation for UK bloggers. Worth a look at.