Legal Definitions - single-publication rule

The single-publication rule is a legal principle that applies to claims of defamation, particularly libel, when information is disseminated to a wide audience. It states that an entire edition of a newspaper, magazine, book, or a single broadcast or online posting is considered one "publication" for the purpose of a lawsuit. This means that a person claiming to be defamed can only bring one lawsuit for that specific publication, even if it was distributed to thousands of people or accessed by many online. The rule prevents a plaintiff from filing separate lawsuits for every single copy sold, every download, or every view of the defamatory content.

Here are some examples to illustrate the single-publication rule:

• Example 1: National Magazine Article

  A prominent national magazine publishes an investigative article that falsely accuses a well-known public figure of financial misconduct. The magazine prints and distributes 750,000 copies of this issue across the country.

  How it illustrates the rule: Under the single-publication rule, the public figure can only file one libel lawsuit against the magazine publisher for the defamatory statements in that specific article. They cannot file 750,000 separate lawsuits, one for each copy of the magazine sold or distributed. The entire print run of that particular issue is considered a single publication event.

• Example 2: Online News Report

  A popular news website publishes an article containing false and damaging statements about a local restaurant owner. The article remains accessible online for several months and is viewed by tens of thousands of readers from various locations.

  How it illustrates the rule: The restaurant owner has one claim for libel against the website publisher for that specific online article. They cannot file a new lawsuit every time a different person views the article, or for each day the article remains posted on the website. The initial posting of the article online constitutes the single publication event.

• Example 3: Fictional Novel

  An author publishes a novel that includes a character clearly based on a real person, making several false and unflattering claims about their personal life. The book is released in hardcover, then later in paperback, and is sold in bookstores nationwide over a period of two years.

  How it illustrates the rule: The real person who believes they have been defamed can only bring one libel lawsuit against the author and publisher for the content within that specific novel. Even though thousands of copies were printed and sold over time, and in different formats (hardcover, paperback), the entire distribution of that particular edition of the book is treated as a single publication for legal purposes.