The law of defamation balances two important, and sometimes competing, rights: the right to engage in free speech and the right to be free from untrue attacks on reputation. In practice, the filing or even the threat to file a lawsuit for defamation has sometimes been used as a tool to shut down legitimate comments on the Internet. This topic will explore the rules of and defenses to the tort of defamation. This topic will also examine some of the special issues that arise when it is Internet expression that is challenged by a defamation lawsuit.

For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions about Defamation.