{"id":71777,"date":"2024-12-10T15:51:41","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T14:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/?p=71777"},"modified":"2025-07-02T09:32:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:32:47","slug":"shell-backs-down-in-lawsuit-against-greenpeace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/international\/story\/71777\/shell-backs-down-in-lawsuit-against-greenpeace\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking: Shell backs down in its lawsuit against Greenpeace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Just over a year ago, Shell sued Greenpeace UK, Greenpeace International and nine individuals for millions<\/a> over a completely peaceful protest. We showed them their bully tactics won\u2019t intimidate us \u2013 and now they\u2019ve backed down and settled out of court. <\/p>\n\n

And we\u2019ve made sure none of our supporters\u2019 money will go to Shell. Here\u2019s what you need to know.<\/p>\n\n

Why did Shell sue Greenpeace?<\/h2>\n\n

Last year, six Greenpeace activists boarded a Shell-contracted ship<\/a> in the Atlantic carrying a key piece of equipment to drill for new oil in the North Sea. <\/p>\n\n

When the protest ended, the only damage Shell could find was a padlock which, they alleged, our activists broke. That\u2019s it. Yet they came after us with a million-dollar lawsuit, which they justified for their spending on safety. <\/p>\n\n

\"Activists
Protestors waved a banner from the oil platform saying \u2018Stop drilling. Start Paying.\u2019
\u00a9 Matthew Kemp \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

They demanded $1m USD in damages – and planned to spend another $10m USD in legal fees, which we could have had to pay if we lost the case.<\/p>\n\n

For a company that made \u00a322.4 billion in profits<\/a> last year alone, this is peanuts. For Greenpeace International, this would have been one of the biggest threats in our 45-year history. <\/p>\n\n

But for Shell, this was never about the money. The real reasons behind their suit were revealed when, during early negotiations, the company offered to withdraw the case if we promised never to take action against their rigs, at port and at sea – forever. The mask slipped. This was a textbook SLAPP suit<\/a> \u2013 a bullying legal tactic designed to intimidate critics.<\/p>\n\n

How Greenpeace fought back \u2013 and created a PR disaster for Shell<\/h2>\n\n

Thanks to our incredible supporters<\/a>, Shell backed down from their unreasonable demands. A sustained, year-long campaign against the suit, supported by celebrities including Joe Lycett<\/a>, Stephen Fry and Emma Thompson, turned the legal move into a PR embarrassment for Shell. The case was dubbed<\/a> the \u2018Cousin Greg\u2019 lawsuit<\/a> by Forbes after a scene<\/a> in the Emmy-awarded drama Succession, in which the hapless character threatens to sue Greenpeace to universal dismay.<\/p>\n\n

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