Paul Tweed

Mr Tweed is suing the online retail giant as well as Georgetown University Press, the publisher of Dr Andreas Kreig’s 2023 book Subversion: The Strategic Weaponisation of Narratives.

The High Court previously refused an application from Amazon to stay the proceedings against the bookseller pending the outcome of the separate proceedings against the publisher of the book.

Mr Justice Anthony Barr said the court could consider a further application for a stay at a later stage in the proceedings.

The Court of Appeal declined to overturn the decision, ruling last week that it was fundamentally a case management issue for the High Court and there was no evidence of “irremediable prejudice” to warrant intervention.

“While it will be entirely a matter for the High Court, it seems to me that it may well make sense, both from the perspective of the parties and the efficient use of the resources of the High Court, that they should be case managed together,” Mr Justice Denis McDonald observed.

However, he stressed that it is “entirely a matter for the High Court to decide on whether both cases should be case managed together and the views of the Georgetown defendant will have to be weighed in the balance”.

The judge concluded: “For all of these reasons, I am of the view that the appellants have failed to establish any sufficient basis to warrant interfering with the order of the High Court.

“It follows that their appeal should be dismissed and the order of the High Court should be affirmed.”