Publication as an ingredient of the tort of defamation It is an essential ingredient of an action for libel or slander that there has been communication of a defamatory statement to a person other than the claimant. For a written publication to occur, the words in question must be read and understood by a third party.
Defamation occurs when one person publishes a false statement that tends to harm the reputation of another person. Written defamation is called libel. Spoken defamation is called slander.
Libel and slander are methods of defamation. Libel is defamation in written form. Slander is defamation that is spoken out loud.
To prove defamation, you need to establish that: The statement made against you is not substantially true. The statement was made knowingly or recklessly. The statement was shared with others either verbally or in writing.
Text messages usually fall under libel since they're written, while slander is spoken. But here's the tricky part: legal definitions can differ depending on your location. In some places, private texts might be seen as slander, but if they become public, they definitely count as libel.
In general, a plaintiff who files a lawsuit asserting that a statement you published is defamatory must show that you: published the statement, meaning that it was read or viewed by at least one other person besides the plaintiff. Stories broadcast on television or published on the Internet would qualify.
What does Publication mean? The requirement in defamation claims for the claimant to show that a defamatory statement has been communicated by the defendant to at least one other person than the parties themselves.
To successfully bring a defamation claim, the claimant must prove the following elements: False Statement. The statement in question must be false. Defamatory Meaning. Publication. Reference to the Claimant. Serious Harm. Limitation Period.