Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
1881 c. 60
An Act to amend the Law of Newspaper Libel, and to provide for the Registration of Newspaper Proprietors.
[27th August 1881]
Functions of Board of Trade now exercisable concurrently by Secretary of State: S.I. 1970/1537, art. 2
Preamble omitted under authority of Statute Law Revision Act 1894 (c. 56)
This Act is not necessarily in the form in which it has effect in Northern Ireland
Act modified (E.W.) (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, ss. 76, 82(2), Sch. 16 para. 1(2)

1 Interpretation.
In the construction of this Act, unless there is anything in the subject or context repugnant thereto, the several words and phrases herein-after mentioned shall have and include the meanings following; (that is to say,)
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The word “newspaper” shall mean any paper containing public news, intelligence, or occurrences, or any remarks or observations therein printed for sale, and published in England or Ireland periodically, or in parts or numbers at intervals not exceeding twenty-six days between the publication of any two such papers, parts, or numbers.
Also any paper printed in order to be dispersed, and made public weekly or oftener, or at intervals not exceeding twenty-six days, containing only or principally advertisements.
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The word “proprietor” shall mean and include as well the sole proprietor of any newspaper, as also in the case of a divided proprietorship the persons who, as partners or otherwise, represent and are responsible for any share or interest in the newspaper as between themselves and the persons in like manner representing or responsible for the other shares or interests therein, and no other person.
References to Ireland to be construed as exclusive of Republic of Ireland: S.R. & O. 1923/405 (Rev. X, p. 298: 1923, p. 400), art. 2
Words in s. 1 omitted (26.5.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(3)(r), Sch. 23 para. 3
Words in s. 1 omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1941), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(2)(b) (with art. 10)

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S. 2 repealed by Law of Libel Amendment Act 1888 (c. 64), s. 2

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S. 3 repealed by Law of Libel Amendment Act 1888 (c. 64), s. 8

4 Inquiry by court of summary jurisdiction as to libel being for public benefit or being true.
A court of summary jurisdictionin Northern Ireland, upon the hearing of a charge against a proprietor, publisher, or editor, or any person responsible for the publication of a newspaper, for ablasphemous libel published therein, may receive evidence ... as to any matter which under this or any other Act, or otherwise, might be given in evidence by way of defence by the person charged on his trial on indictment, and the court, if of opinion after hearing such evidence that there is a strong or probable presumption that the jury on the trial would acquit the person charged, may dismiss the case.
Words in s. 4 inserted (12.1.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(2)(c), Sch. 21 para. 67(a) (with s. 180)
Word in s. 4 inserted (12.1.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(2)(c), Sch. 21 para. 67(b) (with s. 180)
Words in s. 4 repealed (12.1.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(2)(c), (e)(i), (e)(iii), (e)(ix), (e)(v), (e)(vi), (e)(vii), (e)(viii), (e)(x), (e)(xi), (5), Sch. 21 para. 67(c)Sch. 23 Pt. 2 (with s. 180)

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S. 5 repealed by Criminal Law Act 1977 (c. 45), Sch. 13

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S. 6 repealed by Administration of Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1933 (c. 36), Sch. 3

7 Board of Trade may authorise registration of the names of only a portion of the proprietors of a newspaper.
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Ss. 7-18 omitted (26.5.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(3)(r), Sch. 23 para. 2

8 Register of newspaper proprietors to be established.
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9 Annual returns to be made.
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10 Penalty for omission to make annual returns.
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11 Power to party to make return.
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12 Penalty for wilful mis-representation in or omission from return.
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13 Registrar to enter returns in register.
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14 Fees payable for registrar’s services.
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S. 14 omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of The Companies Act 2006 (Consequential Amendments, Transitional Provisions and Savings) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1941), art. 1(2), Sch. 1 para. 1(5) (with art. 10)

15 Certified copy of material on register to be admissible in evidence
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16 Recovery of penalties and enforcement of orders.
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S. 17 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1894 (c. 56)

18 Provisions as to registration of newspaper proprietors not to apply to newspaper belonging to joint stock company.
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19 Act not to extend to Scotland.
This Act shall not extend to Scotland.

20 Short title.
This Act may for all purposes be cited as the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881.

THE SCHEDULES to which this Act refers

SCHEDULE A Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
Section 9.
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Sch. A omitted (26.5.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(3)(r), Sch. 23 para. 2

SCHEDULE B Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
Section 11.
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Sch. B omitted (26.5.2015) by virtue of Deregulation Act 2015 (c. 20), s. 115(3)(r), Sch. 23 para. 2