{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-1996/section-18",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-1996/section-18.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/31",
  "legislation_title": "Defamation Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-1996",
  "path": "section/18",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "18",
  "heading": "Extent.",
  "text": "(1) The following provisions of this Act extend to England and Wales—\nsection 1 (responsibility for publication),\nsections 2 to 4 (offer to make amends), except section 3(9),\nsection 5 (time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood),\nsection 7 (ruling on the meaning of a statement),\nsections 8 to 10 (summary disposal of claim),\nsection 12(1) (evidence of convictions),\nsection 13 (evidence concerning proceedings in Parliament),\nsections 14 and 15 and Schedule 1 (statutory privilege),\nsection 16 and Schedule 2 (repeals) so far as relating to enactments extending to England and Wales,\nsection 17(1) (interpretation),\nthis subsection,\nsection 19 (commencement) so far as relating to provisions which extend to England and Wales, and\nsection 20 (short title and saving).\n(2) The following provisions of this Act extend to Scotland—\n...\n...\nsection 12(2) (evidence of convictions),\nsection 13 (evidence concerning proceedings in Parliament),\n...\nsection 16 and Schedule 2 (repeals) so far as relating to enactments extending to Scotland,\nsection 17 (interpretation),\nthis subsection,\nsection 19 (commencement) so far as relating to provisions which extend to Scotland, and\nsection 20 (short title and saving).\n(3) The following provisions of this Act extend to Northern Ireland—\nsection 1 (responsibility for publication),\nsections 2 to 4 (offer to make amends), except section 3(9),\nsection 6 (time limit for actions for defamation or malicious falsehood),\nsection 7 (ruling on the meaning of a statement),\nsections 8 to 11 (summary disposal of claim),\nsection 12(3) (evidence of convictions),\nsection 13 (evidence concerning proceedings in Parliament),\nsections 14 and 15 and Schedule 1 (statutory privilege),\nsection 16 and Schedule 2 (repeals) so far as relating to enactments extending to Northern Ireland,\nsection 17(1) (interpretation),\nthis subsection,\nsection 19 (commencement) so far as relating to provisions which extend to Northern Ireland, and\nsection 20 (short title and saving).",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 18(2) repealed (S.) (8.8.2022) by Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 10), ss. 35(3)(b)(i), 39(2); S.S.I. 2022/154, regs. 1(2), 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 18(2) repealed (S.) (8.8.2022) by Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 10), ss. 35(3)(b)(ii), 39(2); S.S.I. 2022/154, regs. 1(2), 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 18(2) repealed (S.) (8.8.2022) by Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021 (asp 10), ss. 35(3)(b)(iii), 39(2); S.S.I. 2022/154, regs. 1(2), 2"
    },
    {
      "type": "E",
      "label": "E1",
      "text": "S. 18(1) extends to England and Wales; s. 18(2) extends to Scotland; s. 18(3) extends to Northern Ireland."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/31/section/18",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:31:02.600018+00:00",
    "licence": "OGL-UK-3.0",
    "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
    "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
  }
}