Defamation Bill

Session 2012 - 13
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Other Bills before Parliament

Defamation Bill

Defamation Bill

EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, are published
separately as Bill 5—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Secretary Kenneth Clarke has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of
the Human Rights Act 1998:
In my view the provisions of the Defamation Bill are compatible with the Convention
rights.

Bill 5 55/2

Defamation Bill

Contents
Requirement of serious harm
1
Serious harm
Defences
2
Truth
3
Honest opinion
4
Responsible publication on matter of public interest
5
Operators of websites
6
Peer-reviewed statement in scientific or academic journal etc
7
Reports etc protected by privilege
Single publication rule
8
Single publication rule
Jurisdiction
9
Action against a person not domiciled in the UK or a Member State etc
10
Action against a person who was not the author, editor etc
Trial by jury
11
Trial to be without a jury unless the court orders otherwise
Summary of court judgment
12
Power of court to order a summary of its judgment to be published
Slander
13
Special damage
General provisions
14
Meaning of “publish” and “statement”
15
Consequential amendments and savings etc
16
Short title, commencement and extent

Bill 5
55/2

© Parliamentary copyright
Revised 10 May 2012