(4) Nothing in section 1 or 14 affects any cause of action accrued before the
commencement of the section in question.

(5) Nothing in sections 2 to 7 or 10 has effect in relation to an action for defamation
if the cause of action accrued before the commencement of the section in
5question.

(6) In determining whether section 8 applies, no account is to be taken of any
publication made before the commencement of the section.

(7) Nothing in section 9 or 11 has effect in relation to an action for defamation
begun before the commencement of the section in question.

(8) 10In determining for the purposes of subsection (7)(a) of section 3 whether a
person would have a defence under section 4 to any action for defamation, the
operation of subsection (5) of this section is to be ignored.

17 Short title, extent and commencement

(1) This Act may be cited as the Defamation Act 2012.

(2) 15Subject to subsection (3), this Act extends to England and Wales only.

(3) The following provisions also extend to Scotland—

(a) section 6;

(b) section 7(9);

(c) section 15;

(d) 20section 16(5) (in so far as it relates to sections 6 and 7(9));

(e) this section.

(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), the provisions of this Act come into force on
such day as the Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument
appoint.

(5) 25Sections 6 and 7(9) come into force in so far as they extend to Scotland on such
day as the Scottish Ministers may by order appoint.

(6) Section 15, subsections (4) to (8) of section 16 and this section come into force
on the day on which this Act is passed.