This would ensure that newspapers who refuse to join the new regulatory regime will be liable - potentially - for exemplary damages if a claim is upheld against them.

BBC: Beneath the skin of the Leveson law

He said a royal charter would help to create the world's "toughest" regulatory system, which would allow the imposition of "exemplary damages" on newspapers which refuse to sign up.

BBC: David Cameron halts press regulation talks

And a separate bill, the Crime and Courts Bill, will have amendments ensuring that newspapers who refused to join the new regulatory regime would be potentially liable for exemplary damages if a claim was upheld against them.

BBC: Press regulation deal struck by parties

Among those named in the claim, which seeks unspecified exemplary and punitive damages, are the group's Simon Le Bon and Nick Rhodes, Microsoft and SFX Entertainment.

BBC: Duran Duran sued over 'wrong number'