尼日-剛果諸語言

破壞名譽(defamation)

法律上指散佈假的資訊（告訴第三者）以詆譭他人的名聲，企圖使其名譽掃地。文字誹謗（libel）和口頭誹謗（slander）是破壞名譽在法律上的兩種分類。文字誹謗是用印刷品、圖畫或任何其他有形標記來破壞名譽；口頭誹謗是用言詞破壞名譽。文字誹謗的起訴人一般必須證實所申述的誹謗有特別指明他或她本人，並且已對他人發表（第三者），而且已造成某種傷害。美國最高法院規定，公眾人物（如名人或政治人物）提出的受文字誹謗官司只要能證明是受到「真正蓄意」（亦即明知是錯誤的或輕率地漠視真相）中傷，就可以要求賠償，例如「紐約時報公司訴沙利文案」（New York Times Co. vs. Sullivan,1964）。在控告別人口頭誹謗時，可能提不出所指控或證明造成某種傷害的確切證據，除非供述有明白傷害他人人格的地方，如詆譭原告有犯罪行為、通姦或一種犯罪特徵而影響他或她的生意或工作。在破壞名譽的案件中，辯方通常會想辦法建立所懷疑的供述真相。

English version：

defamation

In law,issuance of false statements about a person that injure the reputation of or deter others from associating with that person. Libel and slander are the legal subcategories of defamation. Libel is defamation in print,pictures,or any other visual symbols. A libel plaintiff must generally establish that the alleged libel refers to him or her specifically,that it was published to others (third parties),and that some injury occurred as a result. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public persons (e.g.,celebrities or politicians) alleging libel may recover damages only if they prove that the statement in question was made with “actual malice,” that is,with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth (New York Times Co. vs. Sullivan,1964). Slander is defamation by oral communication. An action for slander may be brought without alleging and proving special injury if the statement has a plainly harmful character,as by imputing to the plaintiff criminal guilt,serious sexual misconduct,or a characteristic affecting his or her business or profession. The defense in defamation cases often takes the form of seeking to establish the truth of the statements in question.