Law Summary
Liability of Authors and Editors
- The author or editor of a book or pamphlet, as well as the editor or business manager of daily newspapers, magazines, or serial publications, bear responsibility for defamatory content as if they authored it themselves.
- This provision ensures accountability within publishing chains.
Filing of Criminal and Civil Actions
- Criminal and civil actions for written defamation may be filed either simultaneously or separately.
- Such actions are to be filed in the court of first instance where any accused or offended party resides at the time of the offense.
- If the libel is published or circulated in a jurisdiction different from where the offended or accused reside, actions may be filed in that jurisdiction's court of first instance.
Jurisdiction and Exclusivity
- Civil action must be filed in the same court where the criminal action is filed and vice versa.
- The court where the first action (criminal or civil) is filed acquires exclusive jurisdiction over the case.
Exception for Pending Cases
- The amendment does not apply to cases already filed before the law’s effectivity.
Requirement of Complaint for Certain Defamation Actions
- Criminal action for defamation involving the imputation of a crime not prosecutable ex officio may only proceed upon an express complaint filed by the offended party.
- This safeguards against unwarranted criminal prosecution without the complainant's initiative.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect immediately upon approval.