Defamation law in Czechia

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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.

## English defamation terminology

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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.

## Czech defamation law

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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]

## The case of Milan Knížák vs. David Černý

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Milan Knížák was vulgarly insulted by David Černý in a program of Czech Television. The judgment was that David Černý was to pay 100 000 CZK of compensation.[2] It is not perfectly clear which title was applied; perhaps urážka na cti. However, the maximum fine for urážka na cti seems to be 30 000 CZK, surpassed by the awarded 100 000 CZK.

## The case of Tomio Okamura and the label Pitomio

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Japanese-Czech politician Tomio Okamura sued on account of having been labeled Pitomio, apparently from the Czech word pitomec.[3] Which law was invoked is not perfectly clear. It seems Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms was invoked, as part of constitution, but this would need a more careful (or qualified) look. The case seems to have gone through multiple courts; it could be worthwhile to find out about the decisions.

Further reading:

* Wikipedia:cs: Tomio Okamura, wikipedia.org

## References

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Nenechte si pomluvami zničit podnikání, zákon bude na vaší straně, Podnikatel.cz
2. ↑ Ústavní soud nezasáhl do sporu o zadostiučinění za vulgární výrok Davida Černého o Milanu Knížákovi, protože obecné soudy zohlednily všechna ústavně relevantní kritéri, 21 Sep 2017, usoud.cz
3. ↑ III. ÚS 2300/18 Česká republika Nález Ústavního soudu, usoud.cz

## Further reading

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* Wikipedia: Defamation
* Wikipedia:cs: Pomluva
* § 184 - Pomluva in 40/2009 Sb. Zákon trestní zákoník, businesscenter.podnikatel.cz
* § 345 Křivé obvinění, zakony.centrum.cz
* 251/2016 Sb. Zákon o některých přestupcích \-- codifies urážka na cti via phrasing "Fyzická osoba se dopustí přestupku tím, že a) jinému ublíží na cti tím, že ho zesměšní nebo ho jiným způsobem hrubě urazí [...]"
* Defamation, Privacy and Data Protection Law in Czech Republic by Eva Ondřejová, carter-ruck.com
* CzechDefamationLaw | The latest information about the development of the protection of personal rights in the Czech Republic, czechdefamationlaw.wordpress.com