Major changes to Britain’s antiquated defamation laws will be outlined by ministers today with the publication of a bill to provide greater protection for free speech and an end to “libel tourism”.The draft Defamation Bill will propose a new defence of “honest opinion”, which will protect academics from being sued by companies and special-interest groups for damaging their reputations. There is now a defence of “fair comment”, but it has to be based on stated and true facts and rarely succeeds.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/defamation-bill-intended-to-kill-off-libel-tourism-2241872.htmlAlso see:Government unveils libel law reforms
The government on Tuesday unveiled sweeping changes to the libel laws aimed at protecting freedom of speech and bringing an end to so-called “libel tourism” from abroad.Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, published a draft bill that includes a new “public interest” defence which can be used by defendants in defamation cases and a requirement that claimants can demonstrate substantial harm before they can sue.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/15/libel-law-reforms
UK Defamation Bill intended to kill off ‘libel tourism’
Major changes to Britain’s antiquated defamation laws will be outlined by ministers today with the publication of a bill to provide greater protection for free speech and an end to “libel tourism”.