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Did you know that sending an office email with a mean caricature of someone is defamation in the form of libel?

What are the Forms of Defamation?

Last updated on Sep 8, 2022

Saying or writing something harmful to a person’s reputation is defamation. It’s against the law to intentionally harm someone’s reputation, cause them to be hated or disgraced through text, image, cartoons, caricatures or effigies.

There can be two forms of defamation – slander and libel.

Slander

Slander involves something that is spoken, with the intention to harm someone’s reputation, and which can be heard. It is in verbal form. For example, Rahul says bad things about Seema’s character, which results in Seema losing her job. Rahul has committed the crime of defamation through slander.

Libel

Libel involves something that is visually represented, with the intention to harm someone’s reputation, and which can be seen. So, anything that can be written, printed or something on an effigy, movie or statue can be libel. If Rahul writes something about Seema in a magazine in a derogatory manner, then Rahul has committed the crime of defamation through libel.

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