Present Law
English law allows actions for libel to be brought in the High Court for any published statements which are alleged to defame a named or identifiable individual (or individuals) in a manner which causes them loss in their trade or profession, or causes a reasonable person to think worse of him, her or them.
| “ | A is liable for saying anything to C about B which would be apt to make the average citizen think worse of the latter. | ” |
A statement can include an implication; for instance, a photograph of a particular politician accompanying a headline reading "Corrupt Politicians" could be held as an allegation that that politician was personally corrupt. Once it is shown that a statement was published, and that it has a defamatory meaning, that statement is presumed to be false unless the defendant is able to raise a defence to his defamatory act.
The 2006 case of Keith-Smith v Williams confirmed that discussions on the Internet were public enough for libel to take place.
Read more about this topic: English Defamation Law
Famous quotes containing the words present and/or law:
“Anxiety is not fear, being afraid of this or that definite object, but the uncanny feeling of being afraid of nothing at all. It is precisely Nothingness that makes itself present and felt as the object of our dread.”
—William Barrett (b. 1913)
“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
—Bible: New Testament, Galatians 6:2.