I've done a couple of blogs about the British Government's efforts to stop criminals earning money from publishing books about their crimes. There have been good comments in from various people (disappointingly few from Macmillan employees) mainly politely (or impolitely) telling the Government not to interfere. The dangers of legislation would almost certainly exceed any potential benefits. The risks of unintended censorship and reduction of freedom of speech are inherent in any such legislation.

However, the case of O.J.Simpson's latest efforts highlights another angle. Maxim Jakubowski in his Guardian blog argues that booksellers should refuse to sell Simpson's book (which evidently tells the story of how he would have committed the double murder but which, of course, he did not). Maxim is owner of Murder One which is London's leading crime bookshop and he knows a thing or two about true crime and criminals (not personally you understand). Now, I'm not sure that any sort of censorship is appropriate but the irony of this case is that, under the proposed legislation, O.J.Simpson would fall outside the recommendations because he was found not guilty of the crime.

Regan Books (part of HarperCollins USA) are publishing If I Did It in the USA but HarperCollins UK say they will not. Presumably the UK were offered the rights and declined on grounds of taste. Certainly the only Simpsons mentioned on the UK site are Bart and his family (presumably no relation). I'm sure that both Maxim and HarperCollins UK will sleep more soundly for not being involved but censorship....?