Definition of DEFAMATION in Black's Law Dictionary 4th Edition – Legal dictionary – Glossary of legal terms.
Definition of DEFAMATION
The taking from one's reputation. The offense of injuring 'a person's character, fame, or reputation by false and malicious statements. The term seems to include both libel and slander. In general, see Shaw Cleaners & Dyers v. Des Moines Dress Club, 215 Iowa, 1130, 245 N.W. 231, 86 A.L.R. 839; Snavely v. Booth, 6 W. W.Harr. 378, 176 A. 649; Washer v. Bank of America Nat. Trust & Savings Ass'n, 128 P.2d 799. Libel. Seested v. Post Printing & Publishing Co., 326 Mo. 559, 31 S.W.2d 1045, 1052, Slander. Connelly v. McKay, 176 Misc, 685, 28 N.Y.S.2d 327, 329.
The distinction between "criticism" and "defamation" is that criticism deals only with such things as invite public attention or call for public comment, and does not follow a man into his private life, or pry into his domestic concerns, and it never attacks the individual, but only his work. Schwimmer v, Commercial Newspaper Co., 131 Misc. 552, 228 N.Y.S. 220, 221.
The fundamental difference between a right to "privacy" and a right to freedom from "defamation" is that the former directly concerns one's own peace of mind whereas the latter concerns primarily one's reputation. Themo v. New England Newspaper Pub. Co., 306 Mass. 54, 27 N.E.2d 753, 755.
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That's the definition of DEFAMATION in Black's Law Dictionary 4th Edition – Legal dictionary – Glossary of legal terms. Courtesy of Cekhukum.com.
