What is defamation?

• A. Making false accusations about someone that damages their reputation.
• B. A legal term for copyright infringement.
• C. A type of privacy violation.
• D. A contract term.

Answer: (A)

Defamation is when someone makes false statements about another person that damage that person’s reputation. These statements can be spoken (slander) or written (libel) and must be shared with other people. The important point is that the claim is not true and it harms how others view the person. Truth is a defense—if what’s said is true, it isn’t defamation. This concept is different from copyright infringement (using someone’s creative work without permission), privacy violations (sharing private facts or intruding into someone’s private life), or a contract term (an obligation written into an agreement).