Three Errors in the Defamation Act 2013

Eric Descheemaeker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

This article considers three aspects of a recent British statute on the law of defamation, the Defamation Act 2013, disputing in each case their opportuneness. First, it argues that the new requirement of ‘serious harm’ under sec 1 runs against basic tenets of the law. Second, it expresses concern about the new drafting of the defence of responsible journalism (sec 4), which is in danger of losing touch with its original rationale. Third, it examines the revamped version of the defence of fair comment, now known as ‘honest opinion’ (sec 3), and suggests that comment should never be actionable because it cannot be defamatory in the first place.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)24-48
JournalJournal of European Tort Law
Volume6
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2015

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