libel

     

In law, efamation (also called vilification, slander, and libel) is the communication of a statement that makes a false claim, expressively stated or implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, government or nation a negative image. Slander refers to a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report, while libel refers to any other form of communication such as written words or images. Most jurisdictions allow legal actions, civil and/or criminal, to deter various kinds of defamation and retaliate against groundless criticism. Related to defamation is public disclosure of private facts which arises where one person reveals information which is not of public concern, and the release of which would offend a reasonable person. "Unlike libel or slander, truth is not a defense for invasion of privacy."

Trivia about libel

  • It's the type of defamation expressed by print, writing, pictures or signs
  • Maliciously try to damage a person's reputation by publishing a false report
  • Carol Burnett's suit against the National Enquirer for this hinged on whether the Enquirer was really a newspaper
  • Be careful what you write about another person; if it's defamatory & untrue, it's this crime
  • On Nov. 17, 1734 journalist John Peter Zenger was arrested for this; a landmark freedom of the press case ensued

Found pages about libel