Libel

Libel law protects individuals and corporations from damaging, defamatory statements made about them in writing to others. A defamatory statement is one that holds a person up to public ridicule and causes that person to be thought less of. Defamation must be more than simply embarrassing; it must damage reputation and interfere with relationships. Although the terms libel and defamation are often used interchangeably, libel actually refers to defamatory statements made in writing. When those same statements are spoken, as opposed to written, it is known as slander.

When statements are made in writing about a corporation that allege things such as defective products or shady accounting practices, its reputation can suffer. The corporation can lose customers and contracts as a result. This entry discusses the ...