Defamation Act 1996

17 Interpretation. U.K.

(1) In this Act—

• “publication” and “publish”, in relation to a statement, have the meaning they have for the purposes of the law of defamation generally, but “publisher” is specially defined for the purposes of section 1;

• “statement” means words, pictures, visual images, gestures or any other method of signifying meaning; and

• “statutory provision” means—

  (a)

  a provision contained in an Act or in subordinate legislation within the meaning of the M1 Interpretation Act 1978

[F1 (aa) a provision contained in an Act of the Scottish Parliament or in an instrument made under such an Act,],or

(b) a statutory provision within the meaning given by section 1(f) of the M2 Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

(2) In this Act as it applies to proceedings in Scotland—

• “costs” means expenses; and

• “plaintiff” and “defendant” mean pursuer and defender.

Extent Information

E1 S. 17 extends to the United Kingdom; s. 17(2) extends to Scotland see s. 18(1)(2)(3).

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 17(1)(aa) inserted (6.5.1999) by 1998 c. 46, s. 125, Sch. 8, para. 33(2)(with s. 126(3)-(11)); S. I. 1998/3178, art. 2(2), Sch. 3

Commencement Information

I1 S. 17 partly in force; s. 17 partly in force at Royal Assent see s. 19(2)(3); s. 17 in force for certain purposes at 1.4.1999 by S.I. 1999/817, art. 2(a); s. 17(1) fully in force for E.W. at 28.2.2000 by S.I. 2000/222, art. 3; s. 17 in force for S. at 31.3.2001 insofar as not already in force by S.S.I. 2001/98, art. 3(b)(ii)

I2 S. 17(1) in force at 6.1.2010 for N.I. in so far as not already in force by S.I. 2009/2858, art. 3(d)

Marginal Citations

M1 1978 c. 30.

M2 1954 c. 33 (N.I.).