Introductory Text
PART 1 Defamation
Actionability and restrictions on bringing proceedings
1.Actionability of defamatory statements
2.Prohibition on public authorities bringing proceedings
3.Restriction on proceedings against secondary publishers
4.Power to specify persons to be treated as publishers
Defences
5.Defence of truth
6.Defence of publication on a matter of public interest
7.Defence of honest opinion
8.Abolition of common law defences and transitional provision
Absolute privilege
9.Contemporaneous reports of court proceedings
Qualified privilege
10.Peer-reviewed statement in scientific or academic journal etc.
11.Other statements protected by qualified privilege
12.Privilege: transitional provision
Offers to make amends
13.Offer to make amends
14.Acceptance and enforcement of offer to make amends
15.Offer to make amends: multiple persons responsible for statement
16.Rejection of unqualified offer to make amends
17.Rejection of qualified offer to make amends
18.Offers to make amends: transitional provision
Jurisdiction
19.Actions against a person not domiciled in the UK
Removal of presumption that proceedings are to be tried by jury
20.Removal of presumption that proceedings are to be tried by jury
PART 2 Malicious publication
Actionable types of malicious publication
21.Statements causing harm to business interests
22.Statements causing doubt as to title to property
23.Statements criticising assets
General provision
24.Limit on requirement to show financial loss
25.Statements conveying two or more meanings
26.Damages for anxiety and distress
Abolition of common law verbal injuries
27.Abolition of common law verbal injuries
PART 3 General
Remedies
28.Power of court to order a summary of its judgment to be published
29.Making a statement in open court
30.Power of court to order display of notice of proceedings, removal of a statement etc.
31.Remedies: transitional provision
Limitation
32.Limitation of actions
33.Interruption of limitation period: mediation
34.Interruption of limitation period: media complaints and expert determination
Miscellaneous
35.Consequential modifications
36.Interpretation
37.Regulations
38.Ancillary provision
39.Commencement
40.Short title
SCHEDULE
Statements having qualified privilege
PART 1 Statements having qualified privilege without being subject to explanation or contradiction
Reports of legislative proceedings
1.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public of...
Legislature and government documents
2.A fair and accurate copy of or extract from matter...
Reports of court and inquiry proceedings
3.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public before...
4.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public of...
Court notices, advertisements etc.
5.A notice or advertisement published by or on the authority...
Public registers and documents
6.A fair and accurate copy of or extract from any...
International organisations and conferences
7.A fair and accurate report of proceedings in public anywhere...
8.A fair and accurate copy of or extract from matter...
PART 2 Statements having qualified privilege subject to explanation or contradiction
Notices etc. issued by legislatures, governments, certain authorities, international organisations etc.
9.(1) A fair and accurate copy of, extract from or...
Documents released by courts, judges and court officers
10.A fair and accurate copy of, extract from or summary...
Reports of proceedings of local government, committees, commissions, inquiries, tribunals etc.
11.(1) A fair and accurate report of proceedings at any...
Reports of press conferences on matters of public interest
12.A fair and accurate report of proceedings at a press...
Reports of public meetings on matters of public interest
13.(1) A fair and accurate report of proceedings at any...
Listed companies: reports of meetings and certain other documents
14.(1) A fair and accurate report of proceedings at a...
Findings or decisions of certain associations
15.(1) A fair and accurate report of any finding or...
Reports of scientific and academic conferences and associated documents
16.A fair and accurate— (a) report of proceedings of a...
Reports and summaries etc. by Scottish Ministers' designees
17.(1) A fair and accurate report or summary of, copy...
PART 3 Supplementary provision
Interpretation
18.In this schedule— “court” includes— any tribunal or body established...