This article explores the codification of defamation in the Czech legal system. It is not written by lawyers, and does not replace a professional legal advice.
Relevant Wikidata terminology: natural person, defamation, defamation, libel, slander.
First, let us clarify related terminology in English:
- defamation
- subclass: slander: spoken
- subclass: libel: written
- superclass: crime
- superclass: tort
The above is likely to be an oversimplification.
About Czech term pomluva, which is informally well translated as defamation:
- In Wikidata, the term is here: defamation (Q20057997).
- A semi-implicit definition of pomluva is here: [1]. This is 40/2009 Sb. Zákon trestní zákoník.
- A pomluva (defamation) is a trestný čin (crime) since it is specified in trestní zákoník (penal code).
- The penalty is 1 year or 2 years in prison (odnětí svobody), depending on the medium of publication of the defamatory statements.
- The definition requires the statement made to be untrue.
- The definition stays silent about the intent or belief of the author of the potentially defamatory statement.
- The definition stays silent about demonstration or proof of truth or untruth of the statement; it merely requires the statement to be untrue.
- The definition does not make it clear who has the burden of proof as for truth.
- There is a contrasting term křivé obvinění (false accusation) that has a separate codification and penalty.
- Another contrasting term is urážka na cti (insult of honor) that has a separate codification and penalty.
- According to one source--but not explicitly the law--the object of defamation has to be a natural person in order for the title to apply.[1]
- According to one source--but not explicitly the law--the person doing the defamation must have a certain intent.[1]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nenechte si pomluvami zničit podnikání, zákon bude na vaší straně, Podnikatel.cz