{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-1996/section-20",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-1996/section-20.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/1996/31",
  "legislation_title": "Defamation Act 1996",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-act-1996",
  "path": "section/20",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "20",
  "heading": "Short title and saving.",
  "text": "(1) This Act may be cited as the Defamation Act 1996.\n(2) Nothing in this Act affects the law relating to criminal libel.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "S. 20(2) repealed (E.W.) (12.1.2010) by Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (c. 25), s. 182(2)(e)(x), Sch. 23 Pt. 2 Notes 1, 2 (with s. 180) and s. 20(2) repealed (S.) (28.3.2011) by Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 13), s. 206(1), Sch. 7 para. 64; S.S.I. 2011/178, art. 2, Sch."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/31/section/20",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:31:02.600018+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "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."
}