| 释义 |
libel
n. A defamatory statement made in permanent form, such as writing, pictures, or film (see defamation). Radio and television broadcasts, public performance of plays, and statements posted on the Internet have been treated as being made in permanent form for the purposes of the law of defamation (Godfrey v Demon Internet Ltd [2001] QB 201). Section 1 of the Defamation Act 2013 now requires the claimant to show that publication of the allegedly defamatory material has caused, or is likely to cause, serious harm to the claimant’s reputation, and in the case of companies, serious financial loss. Libel used also to exist as a crime (criminal libel), but the offence was abolished by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. |