{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-and-malicious-publication-scotland-act-2021/section-8",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/defamation-and-malicious-publication-scotland-act-2021/section-8.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/8",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "8",
  "heading": "Abolition of common law defences and transitional provision",
  "text": "(1) Any rules of law providing for—\n(a) the defence of innocent dissemination,\n(b) the defence of veritas,\n(c) the defence known as the Reynolds defence,\n(d) the defence of fair comment,\ncease to have effect.\n(2) Nothing in sections 5 to 7 or subsection (1) of this section has effect in relation to defamation proceedings if the right to bring the proceedings accrued before the commencement of the section or subsection in question.",
  "extent": null,
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "I",
      "label": "I1",
      "text": "S. 8 in force at 8.8.2022 by S.S.I. 2022/154, regs. 1(2), 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2021/10/section/8",
    "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."
}