Recent Reports
Aithisgean ùra
Committee Reports
Aithisgean Chomataidh
Research Briefings
Brathan-ullachaidh Rannsachadh
Feedback
Ais-eòlas
Recent Reports
Aithisgean ùra
Committee Reports
Aithisgean Chomataidh
Research Briefings
Brathan-ullachaidh Rannsachadh
Feedback
Ais-eòlas
Published by The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill
Author: Angus Evans and Abigail Bremner
SHARE
PDF
Published: Wednesday 11 Mar 2020 (SB 20-22)
Expand
Overview
Report
Hide
Hide
Overview
Report
The main issues
Terminology
The Bill - important dates and documents
What are the Bill's main objectives?
Balancing human rights
What is the background to the Bill?
Reform in England and Wales
Most of the English reforms were not followed in Scotland
Scottish Law Commission review
Justice Committee work and Scottish Government consultation
What exactly are defamation and verbal injury?
Defamation - what are the sources of law?
Online content and free speech
The current law limits the liability of internet intermediaries for defamation
The "take-down" procedure in England and Wales
The SLC recommendations for online content
Defamation - summary of the main legal principles
How is defamation defined in law?
The presumptions of falsehood and malice - there is no need for intention to defame
No need for communication to third parties
No threshold for harm before court action for defamation can be raised
Who can bring a defamation action?
Which courts can deal with defamation actions?
Cut-off periods for actions and the multiple publication rule
What costs are involved in bringing and defending defamation actions?
What are the defences to a defamation action?
Truth or "veritas"
Fair comment
Public interest
Absolute and qualified privilege
Absolute privilege
Qualified Privilege
Internet intermediaries
Defamation - what legal remedies exist?
Defamation - what would the Bill change?
Statutory definition of defamation
Need for communication to a third party
Introduction of a serious harm threshold
Bodies trading for profit and serious harm
Single publication rule and one year limitation period
Public authorities
Secondary publishers and internet intermediaries
Defences
Privileged publication
Remedies
Jurisdiction
Defamation of deceased people
Verbal injury - what are the main legal principles?
Verbal injury - what would the Bill change?
Brexit
Sources
Image: The main issues
prev
next
Scottish Parliament. (2020). Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill [as introduced] SP Bill 61. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61S052019.pdf
[accessed 10 March 2020]
Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill - Policy Memorandum. (2020). SP Bill 61-PM. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61PMS052019.pdf
[accessed 10 March 2020]
Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill. (n.d.) SP Bill 61-FM. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61FMS052019.pdf
[accessed 10 March 2020]
Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill. (2020). SP Bill 61-EN. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61ENS052019(1).pdf
[accessed 10 March 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2019, December 2). Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61PMS052019.pdf
[accessed 22 January 2020]
Pfeifer v Austria. (2007). Application no. 12556/03. Retrieved from
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-83294%22]}
[accessed 9 March 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (2017, December). Report on Defamation. Retrieved from
https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/7315/1316/5353/Report_on_Defamation_Report_No_248.pdf
[accessed 21 January 2020]
Ministry of Justice. (2010, March). Report of the Libel Working Group. Retrieved from
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110201153832/http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/libel-working-group-report.pdf
[accessed 22 January 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2012, September 18). Official Report Justice Committee 18 September 2012. Retrieved from
http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=7520
[accessed 21 January 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2012, September 25). Justice Committee 10th Report, 2012 (Session 4) Legislative Consent Memorandum on the Defamation Bill. Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/55001.aspx
[accessed 2020 January 22]
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation (para. 1.1.5). Retrieved from
https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 2020 February 4]
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation. Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 15 January 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation (para. 2.11). Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 27 January 2020]
Discussion Paper on Defamation (para 3.2). (2016, March). Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation (para 3.12). Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 27 January 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2020, December 2). Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum (para. 32). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61PMS052019.pdf
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation (para 3.26 at footnote 49). Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Aamodt, A. (2015, August 26). Protecting the reputation of the council. Retrieved from
https://www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk/governance/314-governance-a-risk-articles/26702-protecting-the-reputation-of-the-council
[accessed 29 January 2020]
Wales Audit Office. (2014, January 30). Indemnity for Libel Counterclaim - Carmarthenshire County Council - Report in the Public Interest. Retrieved from
https://www.audit.wales/publication/indemnity-libel-counterclaim-carmarthenshire-county-council-report-public-interest
[accessed 29 January 2020]
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service. (2020). Email to Abigail Bremner (SPICe researcher) 21 January 2020. (n.p.): Unpublished.
MacDonald, K. (2019, April 18). Fair and square?. Retrieved from
https://www.burnesspaull.com/blog/2019/04/fair-and-square
[accessed 29 January 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2019, December 2). Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum (para. 108). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61PMS052019.pdf
[accessed 29 January 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2019, December 2). Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum (para. 109). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61PMS052019.pdf
[accessed 29 January 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation (para 8.15). Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 30 January 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation (para 7.3). Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Scottish Government. (2019, January). Defamation in Scots law - a consultation (para. 46). Retrieved from
https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/consultation-paper/2019/01/defamation-scots-law-consultation/documents/defamation-scots-law-consultation/defamation-scots-law-consultation/govscot%3Adocument/00545014.pdf
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Faculty of Advocates. (2019, April 16). No title Retrieved from
http://www.advocates.org.uk/media/3070/final-faculty-response-16-april-2019-3.pdf
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Rogerson, J., & Daley, K. (2019, June 24). The meaning of "serious harm": the Supreme Court in Lachaux v Independent Print. Retrieved from
https://www.whitecase.com/publications/alert/meaning-serious-harm-supreme-court-lachaux-v-independent-print
[accessed 4 February 2020]
Lachaux (Respondent) v Independent Print Ltd and another (Appellants) [2019] UKSC 27, para. 21. (2019, June 12). Retrieved from
https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2017-0175-judgment.pdf
[accessed 5 February 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (n.d.) Report on Defamation (para. 2.18). Retrieved from
https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/7315/1316/5353/Report_on_Defamation_Report_No_248.pdf
[accessed December 2017]
Scottish Law Commission. (2016, March). Discussion Paper on Defamation (para. 10.5). Retrieved from
http://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/5114/5820/6101/Discussion_Paper_on_Defamation_DP_No_161.pdf
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Brodies. (2013, January 1). THE RIGHT TO SUE: PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND DEFAMATION. Retrieved from
https://brodies.com/binformed/legal-updates/the-right-to-sue-public-authorities-and-defamation
[accessed 20 February 2020]
Scottish Housing News. (2019, November 15). Serco lock-change evictions case: Court of Session ruling in detail. Retrieved from
https://www.scottishhousingnews.com/article/serco-lock-change-evictions-case-court-of-session-ruling-in-detail
[accessed 20 February 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2019, December 2). Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill (para. 69). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61PMS052019.pdf
[accessed 18 February 2020]
Explanatory Notes - Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill - para. 21. (2019, December 2). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61ENS052019(1).pdf
[accessed 20 February 2020]
Scottish Parliament. (2019, December 2). Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Bill - Policy Memorandum (para. 70). Retrieved from
https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Bills/Defamation%20and%20Malicious%20Publication%20(Scotland)%20Bill/SPBill61PMS052019.pdf
[accessed 20 February 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (2017, December). Report on Defamation (paragraphs 6.43 and 6.49). Retrieved from
https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/7315/1316/5353/Report_on_Defamation_Report_No_248.pdf
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Jones Day. (2015, March). Recast Brussels I Regulation: The Abolition of Exequatur and the Amendment to Rules Relating to the Enforceability of Jurisdiction Clause. Retrieved from
https://www.jonesday.com/en/insights/2015/03/recast-brussels-i-regulation-the-abolition-of-iexequaturi-and-the-amendment-to-rules-relating-to-the-enforceability-of-jurisdiction-clause
[accessed 25 February 2020]
Scottish Law Commission. (2017, December). Report on Defamation (para. 10.7). Retrieved from
https://www.scotlawcom.gov.uk/files/7315/1316/5353/Report_on_Defamation_Report_No_248.pdf
Last Updated: 25/1 2:00am
An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.
Refresh
BACK TO TOP
