Meghan markle book finding freedom can be used in lawsuit battle

The latest verdict in Meghan's battle against the publisher of the Mail on Sunday, the MailOnline and the Daily Mail has been announced today. The London's High Court's judge

ruled Associated Newspapers can amend its case ahead of a trial next year and use the unofficial biography of the Sussexes, Finding Freedom, in its legal defence.  Finding Freedom, a book by

royal authors Carolyn Durand and Omid Scobie, was published in August and contains intimate details of the couple as well as their relationship with the Royal Family.  The judge, Master

Kaye of the Chancery Division, said the amended defence did not raise "new defences", but simply added "further particulars" of the case of Associated Newspapers. She

added Meghan "knows the case she has to meet" and that "there is no suggestion that she is in fact unable to do so".  The publisher first asked for permission to amend

its written defence last week.  During a preliminary hearing, lawyers representing Associated Newspapers said they wanted to modify their defence to Meghan's case to argue the Sussexes

"co-operated" with the authors of Finding Freedom.   Associated Newspapers claimed the Duchess provided the authors of the book with information about the letter she sent to her

estranged father "in order to set out her own version of events in a way that is favourable to her".  Meghan's lawyers said accusations the Duke and Duchess

"collaborated" with the authors represented a "conspiracy theory".   READ MORE: PIERS MORGAN HITS OUT AT PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN REALITY SHOW CLAIMS The Duchess'

representatives also said references to the letter in the book were simply "extracts from the letter lifted from the defendant's own articles".  Meghan and Harry already

distanced themselves from the book days before it was due to be released.  A statement by a spokesman for the Sussexes said: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were not interviewed and did

not contribute to Finding Freedom. DON'T MISS  "This book is based on the authors' own experiences as members of the royal press corps and their own independent

reporting."  The authors themselves said they did not work with the couple on this book but rather spoke with dozens of sources, friends of the Sussexes and palace aides.  Mr Scobie

repeated this in a written witness statement earlier this month.  The author said: “Any suggestion that the Duke and Duchess collaborated on the book is false.  “They did not authorise the

book and have never been interviewed for it. “The book was always prepared on the understanding that it was to be independent and unauthorised.” Mr Scobie revealed he did speak with Meghan

and Harry "on occasions in the past" as a royal reporter covering their engagements.  However, he added, they never discussed the book.   As announced by Prince Harry in October

last year, Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers, accused of alleged misuse of private information, breaching the Data Protection Act and infringement of copyright in relation to the

publication of parts of a handwritten letter she sent to her father Thomas Markle Snr, 76.  Associated Newspapers shared on its publications extracts of this private letter in February last

year.  The publisher wholly denies any wrongdoing.  The trial is scheduled to start on January 11 and to last between seven to 10 days.