Defamation Act
Act of ParliamentThis bill passed all stages in both Houses and received Royal Assent.
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Long title
To amend the law of defamation.
Summary
<p>The aim of the Bill is to reform the law of defamation to ensure that a fair balance is struck between the right to freedom of expression and the protection of reputation. The Bill makes a number of substantive changes to the law of defamation, but is not designed to codify the law into a single statute.</p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>includes a requirement for claimants to show that they have suffered serious harm before suing for defamation</li><li>removes the current presumption in favour of a jury trial</li><li>introduces a defence of "responsible publication on matters of public interest"</li><li>provides increased protection to operators of websites that host user-generated content, providing they comply with the procedure to enable the complainant to resolve disputes directly with the author of the material concerned</li><li>introduces new statutory defences of truth and honest opinion to replace the common law defences of justification. and fair comment.</li></ul>
Progress through Parliament
- 1st reading· Commons
10 May 2012 – 10 May 2012
- 2nd reading· Commons
12 June 2012 – 12 June 2012
- Programme motion· Commons
12 June 2012 – 12 June 2012
- Committee stage· Commons
19 June 2012 – 26 June 2012
- Report stage· Commons
12 September 2012 – 12 September 2012
- 3rd reading· Commons
12 September 2012 – 12 September 2012
- 1st reading· Lords
8 October 2012 – 8 October 2012
- 2nd reading· Lords
9 October 2012 – 9 October 2012
- Committee stage· Lords
17 December 2012 – 17 January 2013
- Report stage· Lords
5 February 2013 – 5 February 2013
- 3rd reading· Lords
25 February 2013 – 25 February 2013
- Programme motion· Commons
16 April 2013 – 16 April 2013
- Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons
16 April 2013 – 16 April 2013
- Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons· Lords
23 April 2013 – 23 April 2013
- Consideration of Lords amendments· Commons
24 April 2013 – 24 April 2013
- Royal Assent· Unassigned
25 April 2013 – 25 April 2013
Source: UK Parliament Bills API. Bill ID: 983.