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5.12.13

Defamation Act 2013 to come into force on 1 January 2014

Lord McNally has confirmed that the Defamation Act 2013 will come into force on New Year's Day.   The Act reforms elements of English defamation law and, in other areas, codifies the existing law.  The Act received Royal Assent in April of this year, but its implementation has been delayed pending the approval of Regulations that will govern a new defence available to the operators of websites in certain circumstances.  These Regulations - The Defamation (Operators of Websites) Regulations 2013  -  have now been approved and will also come into force on 1 January 2014.

The Act will not apply to causes of action that accrued before 1 January 2014.

A summary of the Act will be published on our website prior to its implementation.

see also: https://www.brettwilson.co.uk/wordpress/defamation-act-2013-receives-royal-assent/

The Defamation Act 2013 can be found here:-

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2013/26/contents

The Defamation (Operators of Websites) Regulations 2013 can be found here:-

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2013/9780111104620


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