Information Note on the Court’s case-law No.
October 1997
Radio ABC v. Austria - 19736/92
Judgment 20.10.1997
Article 10
Article 10-1
Freedom to impart ideas
Freedom to impart information
Impossibility of setting up and operating private radio stations: violation
[This summary is extracted from the Court’s official reports (Series A or Reports of Judgments and Decisions). Its formatting and structure may therefore differ from the Case-Law Information Note summaries.]
I.ARTICLE 10 OF THE CONVENTION
“Interference” with applicant’s exercise of freedom to impart information or ideas – “prescribed by law” – legitimate aim.
Four different periods examined separately in order to determine whether interference was “necessary in a democratic society”.
First period (from application to Post and Telecommunications Regional Head Office to entry into force of Regional Broadcasting Law): applicant’s situation no different from that of applicants in case of Informationsverein Lentia and Others v. Austria – violation.
Second period (from entry into force of Regional Broadcasting Law to Constitutional Court’s judgment declaring certain provisions of that Law null and void): judgment concerned had put applicant back in legal situation which had obtained before Law’s entry into force, thus prolonging violation found in connection with first period.
Third period (from Constitutional Court’s judgment to entry into force of amendments to Regional Broadcasting Law): judgment concerned had prevented any further application of Regional Broadcasting Law pending entry into force of amendments thereto – violation found in connection with first two periods had continued during third.
Fourth period (since entry into force of amendments to Regional Broadcasting Law): Court not required to rule, as amended Law had not yet been applied to applicant.
Conclusion: violation (unanimously).
II.ARTICLE 50 OF THE CONVENTION
A.Pecuniary damage: claim dismissed.
B.Costs and expenses: reimbursed on an equitable basis.
Conclusion: respondent State to pay applicant specified sum for costs and expenses (unanimously).
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This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.
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