The notice of application was registered on 17 September 2001. A judgment on the location of proceedings was handed down on 16 October 2001. Final judgment was handed down on 19 March 2002 in which the Tribunal set aside the decision adopted by the Director General of Fair Trading on 16 July 2001 and ordered that the case be remitted back to the Director General of Fair Trading. Aberdeen Journals lodged a second appeal on 18 November 2002.
