5A Defamation : What Is Defamatory?
Although by no means an exhaustive list, the following are likely to be defamatory:
- Individual, X, (who may or may not be named explicitly) has committed some criminal or seriously anti-social act ...
- X is a liar, is dishonest or has committed a fraudulent act ...
- X took a bribe; X tried to bribe Y ...
- X stole from Y; X is a thief ...
- X is violent or abusive in some way ...
- X damaged Y's property ...
- X is a drug dealer, a drug user or, simply, ‘is involved in' drugs ...
- X is a hypocrite ...
- X is bankrupt; is nearly bankrupt or has serious financial problems ...
- X owes money which he won't (or can't) pay back ...
- X sexually assaulted or harassed Y ...
- X is sexually perverted in some way ...
- X had sex with an underage girl or boy; X is a paedophile ...
- X is cheating on his wife, her husband or his/her long term partner ...
- X is gay (when X is married or claims publicly not to be gay) ...
- X is sexually promiscuous ...
- X has had plastic surgery (when it's been denied previously) ...
- X ‘framed' Y for a crime ...
- X (particularly policeman) planted evidence, ‘fitted up' Y, forced an untrue confession ...
- X was negligent in some way, was guilty of a dereliction of duty ...
- X harassed Y, was a nuisance ...
- X's activities are putting others at risk, in danger, damaging the environment ...
- X exploits others in some way ...
- Company Z is dishonest (for whatever reason) ...
- Z's products are dangerous or unhealthy e.g. cause cancer ...
- Z's products are substandard, of poor quality etc ...
- Z's methods of production, operating methods or activities are putting employees, customers, the public at risk in some way ...
- Z's activities are damaging the environment ...
- Z exploits its workers in some way e.g. uses child labour, low pay, uses sweat shops ...
- Z is bankrupt, is nearly bankrupt or is in financial trouble ...