Libel

To publish in print (including pictures), writing or broadcast through radio, television or film, a lie about another which will do harm to that person or his/her reputation, by bringing the person targeted into ridicule, hatred, scorn or contempt of others.

It is a civil wrong and exposes the party that publishes the lie to be sued for damages by the person that can prove the statement about him/her was a lie. Publication need only to be made to one person, but it must be a statement that claims to be fact, and is not clearly identified as an opinion.

Although it is sometimes said that the person that makes the statement must have been intentional and malicious, in reality it need only be obvious that the statement would do harm and is untrue. Proof of malice entitles the injured party to sue for general damages for damage to reputation, while an inadvertent libel limits the damages to actual harm called special damages.