{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-and-malicious-publication-scotland-act-2021/section-36",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-and-malicious-publication-scotland-act-2021/section-36.json",
  "legislation": "asp/2021/10",
  "legislation_title": "Defamation and Malicious Publication (Scotland) Act 2021",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-and-malicious-publication-scotland-act-2021",
  "path": "section/36",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "36",
  "heading": "Interpretation",
  "text": "In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—\n(a) “publish” (and cognate expressions), in relation to a statement, are to be construed in accordance with section 1,\n(b) “statement” means words, pictures, visual images, gestures or any other method of signifying meaning,\n(c) a reference to proceedings brought under Part 2 is a reference to proceedings brought under section 21, 22 or 23,\n(d) in relation to proceedings generally, a reference to—\n(i) a pursuer includes a petitioner,\n(ii) a defender includes a respondent,\n(iii) defences includes answers.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/10/section/36",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T20:12:34.201134+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."
}