Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
An Act to amend the Law of Newspaper Libel, and to provide for the Registration of Newspaper Proprietors.
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.
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4 Inquiry by court of summary jurisdiction as to libel being for public benefit or being true.
A court of summary jurisdictionF5in 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 aF6blasphemous libel published therein, may receive evidence F7... 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.
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F107 Board of Trade may authorise registration of the names of only a portion of the proprietors of a newspaper.
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F108 Register of newspaper proprietors to be established.
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F109 Annual returns to be made.
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F1010 Penalty for omission to make annual returns.
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F1011 Power to party to make return.
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F1012 Penalty for wilful mis-representation in or omission from return.
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F1013 Registrar to enter returns in register.
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F1114 Fees payable for registrar’s services.
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F1015 Certified copy of material on register to be admissible in evidence
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F1016 Recovery of penalties and enforcement of orders.
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F1018 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.
F13SCHEDULE A Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
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F14SCHEDULE B Return made pursuant to the Newspaper Libel and Registration Act 1881
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