Quick Guide to Defamation Law

Defamation laws aim at protecting people's reputations and character from unfair and unjust attacks. In practice, defamation laws aim to hinder free speech to protect public figures or powerful individuals from hateful speech and scrutiny.

There are two types of defamation: oral defamation, known as slander, which is hateful speech, and published defamation, referred to as libel. Any speech that cripples an individuals reputation, in either form, is considered defamation. If a comment brings a person into disrepute or contempt, it is likely to be illegal according to defamatory law. In these instances, the person who makes the ill-advised comments will face a defamation suit.

Typically the defamation laws focus on the aftereffects of the comment and the tone in which they are delivered. If the attack is violent and has the intent of damaging someone's reputation or their career a defamation proceeding will commence.